Honestly, if you’ve ever stood at the corner of Travis and Capitol in downtown Houston, you know the feeling. You crane your neck so far back it hurts. You're looking at 1,002 feet of pale gray granite and glass that seems to slice right into the Texas sky. For decades, the JP Morgan Chase Tower Houston was the undisputed king. It wasn't just a building; it was the building.
But things changed recently.
As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, the skyscraper world in Texas looks a lot different. After holding the title of "Tallest Building in Texas" for a staggering 44 years, the tower at 600 Travis Street has finally been surpassed. The new champion? The Waterline in Austin, which topped out at 1,025 feet.
It’s kinda wild to think about. Since 1982, the JP Morgan Chase Tower Houston was the peak of the Lone Star State. Now, it’s the second tallest in Texas, though it still holds onto its crown as the tallest building in Houston and the tallest five-sided building in the entire world.
The Pei Factor: Why Five Sides?
Most skyscrapers are boring boxes. They have four sides, four corners, and not much soul. I.M. Pei, the legendary architect behind the Louvre’s glass pyramid, didn't want that for Houston.
He designed a pentagon.
The building features a 85-foot-wide free span of glass that runs the entire height of the structure on one side. It’s a structural marvel. Usually, when you build something 75 stories high, you need massive columns everywhere to keep the wind from knocking it over. Pei and the engineers at CBM Engineers used a "tube-in-tube" design. Basically, the inner core and the outer "skin" work together to handle the massive wind loads that come with Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Speaking of hurricanes, this building is a survivor. When Hurricane Ike tore through downtown Houston in 2008, the tower took a beating. Hundreds of windows were blown out. It looked like a giant checkerboard of plywood for months. But the skeleton? It didn't budge.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Observation Deck
If you’re planning to visit today and head up to the 60th floor for a selfie, I have some bad news.
The "Sky Lobby" is closed to the general public.
This is the number one thing that trips people up. For years, you could walk into the lobby, hop on an express elevator, and be on the 60th floor in about 60 seconds. It was free. It was iconic. You could see all the way to the Galleria and even the San Jacinto Monument on a clear day.
Expert Note: The public observation deck officially closed in 2016. While there was some talk of it reopening after the massive 2021-2022 renovations, it remains a private amenity for tenants and their guests.
Why did they close it? Security and logistics, mostly. Having thousands of tourists wandering through a high-security banking and law-firm hub isn't exactly ideal for the people paying the rent. These days, the 60th floor is a "Sky Lobby" specifically for the people who work there—folks like the lawyers at Hunton Andrews Kurth or the investors at KKR.
The 2022 Reinvention: More Than Just a Facelift
Hines, the developer that has owned or managed this place since the beginning, realized a few years ago that a 40-year-old building needs a soul transplant to compete with the new glass towers popping up.
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They didn't just paint the walls. They hired HOK to basically redo the entire ground-level experience.
- The Glass Pyramid: They added a massive glass pyramid entry. It’s a direct nod to I.M. Pei’s work in Paris. It makes the lobby feel less like a dark granite cave and more like a modern gallery.
- The Plaza: The urban plaza on Milam Street used to be a bit... sterile. Now, it’s got actual green space, places to sit, and a vibe that doesn't scream "keep moving."
- The Art: You can’t talk about this building without mentioning Joan Miró. His sculpture, Personage and Birds, is still the centerpiece of the plaza. It’s five stories tall and bright red, yellow, and blue. It’s the largest sculpture Miró ever did, and honestly, it’s the best photo op in the area now that the observation deck is off-limits.
Living the "Tunnel Life"
If you're new to Houston, the concept of the tunnels might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie. But the JP Morgan Chase Tower Houston is a major hub for the 95-block subterranean world.
During the summer, when Houston feels like the surface of the sun, thousands of workers navigate the city without ever stepping outside. The basement level of the tower is packed with retail and food options. You've got everything from Starbucks to local delis.
It’s a city under a city.
Is It Still Relevant in 2026?
You might wonder if a building from the early '80s can still cut it when Austin is building "supertalls" and Dallas is constantly expanding.
The answer is a pretty firm yes.
The building is LEED Gold certified. It has been upgraded with all the tech that modern companies demand—high-speed fiber, destination-dispatch elevators (those fancy ones where you pick your floor before you get in), and massive conference facilities.
It’s currently owned by a partnership between Hines and Cerberus Capital Management. They paid a fortune for it because, even if it’s no longer the tallest in the state, its location at 600 Travis is the "Main and Main" of Houston’s financial district.
Actionable Insights for Visitors and Professionals
If you're heading downtown to check it out or you're considering office space there, here is the ground truth:
- Don't try to go up: Seriously, security will turn you away from the 60th floor elevators unless you have a badge or a scheduled meeting. Save yourself the awkward walk back to the street.
- Use the Plaza for Meetings: The new outdoor seating is one of the few spots in downtown that actually feels "hospitality-inspired." If you’re meeting someone for coffee, the lobby cafe and the outdoor plaza are top-tier.
- Parking is the Enemy: Like most of downtown Houston, parking at the tower is pricey. Use the METRORail if you can—the Preston Station is just a few blocks away.
- Photography Tips: The best angle for the whole building isn't from the base. Walk a few blocks west toward Jones Plaza or the Theater District. You'll get the full pentagonal shape and the Miró sculpture in one frame.
The JP Morgan Chase Tower Houston might be the "old guard" now, but it’s far from obsolete. It’s a 1,002-foot reminder of the oil boom era that actually managed to age with grace. While Austin might have the height record for now, Houston’s giant still has the history.
Next Step: If you want to see the skyline from a height that is actually accessible to the public, head over to the Wells Fargo Plaza (the second tallest in Houston) or check out the James Turrell "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace at Rice University for a different kind of vertical experience.