1 Shell Plaza in Houston, Texas
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
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1 Shell Plaza in Houston, Texas
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to license this image
Click here to purchase a poster or print of this image
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1 Shell Plaza in Houston, Texas
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to license this image
Click here to purchase a poster or print of this image
1 Shell Plaza
910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002 United States
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Deceptively simple in appearance, One Shell Plaza has a number of surprises upon closer examination. Outwardly, it looks like any other boring concrete block. But it is the only one in downtown Houston to sport a mast like so many skyscrapers in other cities. Its base has just a slight flare to it, spreading out like a Japanese fuji. The neighboring Two Shell Plaza appears to pay homage to this flare with the windows on its lower levels. They appear in roughly triangle patterns. But in reality, this is a structural element. Back at One Shell Plaza, looking down the sides you will notice that not all of the vertical lines are of the same width. Towards the corners some are wider for added structural strength.

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Quick Facts
  • Construction end: 1971
  • Designed by: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson
  • Cost: $39,000,000.00
  • Type: Skyscraper
  • Stories: 50
  • Maximum height: 715 feet / 218 meters
Notes
    >At the time of its completion, One Shell Plaza was the tallest poured concrete building in the world.
    >1991 - Shell pays a reported $65,000,000.00 to renovate One Shell Plaza and Two Shell Plaza, rather than move into a third skyscraper. The cost is more than the company paid for both buildings when they were new.
    >5 March, 1992 - An electrical fire in the basement of the building sends eight people to the hospital.
    >16 June, 1994 - One Shell Plaza is linked to Wells Fargo Plaza by an underground tunnel.
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