The Building That Built Houston
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The Vision Takes Shape | 910 Louisiana
The Vision Takes Shape
1960’s
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill - the architectural force behind Willis Tower, Lever House, and some of the most influential modernist icons of the 20th century - is commissioned by Gerald D. Hines to envision a tower that would redefine Houston’s skyline and signal the city’s global ambitions.
Breaking Ground | 910 Louisiana
Breaking Ground
1967-1969
One of the deepest and most technically ambitious excavations in Houston history is carved into the downtown grid - laying the foundation for the future landmark.
A New Silhouette Rises | 910 Louisiana
A New Silhouette Rises
1970
As construction climbs skyward, a modern architectural language erupts in downtown Houston, signaling the arrival of a new corporate era.
One Shell Plaza Opens | 910 Louisiana
One Shell Plaza Opens
1971
The tower debuts as the tallest building in Houston, while Shell headquarters occupies 40 floors, instantly establishing the building as a corporate powerhouse.
A Blue-Chip Era | 910 Louisiana
A Blue-Chip Era
1970s-2000s
The city’s most influential firms—Baker Botts, The Houston Club, and others—establish the tower’s reputation as the premier address with unmatched skyline views.
A Blue-Chip Legacy | 910 Louisiana
A Blue-Chip Legacy
1980s–2000s
Baker Botts commits to a long-term presence while The Houston Club moves into the top floors, offering rare skyline views and fine dining nearly 50 stories above the city.
Honoring the Icon | 910 Louisiana
Honoring the Icon
2010s
Targeted renovations modernize infrastructure and elevate amenities while preserving the building’s defining architecture.
Today | 910 Louisiana
Today
The Building that Set the Standard is Raising it Again.
A $50M reinvention rushes in a new era of hospitality-first workplace design, restoring 910 Louisiana as one of Houston’s most distinguished, legacy-rich addresses.
The Vision Takes Shape | 910 Louisiana
The Vision Takes Shape
1960’s
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill - the architectural force behind Willis Tower, Lever House, and some of the most influential modernist icons of the 20th century - is commissioned by Gerald D. Hines to envision a tower that would redefine Houston’s skyline and signal the city’s global ambitions.
Breaking Ground | 910 Louisiana
Breaking Ground
1967-1969
One of the deepest and most technically ambitious excavations in Houston history is carved into the downtown grid - laying the foundation for the future landmark.
A New Silhouette Rises | 910 Louisiana
A New Silhouette Rises
1970
As construction climbs skyward, a modern architectural language erupts in downtown Houston, signaling the arrival of a new corporate era.
One Shell Plaza Opens | 910 Louisiana
One Shell Plaza Opens
1971
The tower debuts as the tallest building in Houston, while Shell headquarters occupies 40 floors, instantly establishing the building as a corporate powerhouse.
A Blue-Chip Era | 910 Louisiana
A Blue-Chip Era
1970s-2000s
The city’s most influential firms—Baker Botts, The Houston Club, and others—establish the tower’s reputation as the premier address with unmatched skyline views.
A Blue-Chip Legacy | 910 Louisiana
A Blue-Chip Legacy
1980s–2000s
Baker Botts commits to a long-term presence while The Houston Club moves into the top floors, offering rare skyline views and fine dining nearly 50 stories above the city.
Honoring the Icon | 910 Louisiana
Honoring the Icon
2010s
Targeted renovations modernize infrastructure and elevate amenities while preserving the building’s defining architecture.
Today | 910 Louisiana
Today
The Building that Set the Standard is Raising it Again.
A $50M reinvention rushes in a new era of hospitality-first workplace design, restoring 910 Louisiana as one of Houston’s most distinguished, legacy-rich addresses.
910 Louisiana was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill —the globally renowned firm behind Willis Tower in Chicago, Lever House in New York, and many of the most influential buildings of the 20th century. Known for pioneering modern skyscraper design, their involvement signaled a bold statement:
Houston deserved a tower on par with the world’s greatest cities.
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The Architects Behind America’s Most Iconic Towers
The Architects Behind America’s Most Iconic Towers | 910 Louisiana

In the late 1960s, Gerald D. Hines set out to redefine what Downtown Houston could be. Partnering with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Hines envisioned a building that would project confidence, global relevance, and permanence. Every material choice carried symbolic and functional weight, including the building’s Italian travertine, quarried from the same region as Rome’s Colosseum, linking two empires across the centuries. The selection was a deliberate signal of endurance, civic ambition, and permanence.

Engineering a New Standard
Engineering a New Standard | 910 Louisiana

Before anything could be built, an extraordinary excavation reshaped the downtown grid. One of the deepest foundations ever constructed in Houston set the stage for what would become the world’s tallest lightweight concrete building at the time.  The tower became a benchmark, a structural system engineered for longevity, safety, and efficiency, and a model for future high-rise engineering in Houston.

A Blue-Chip Era Begins
A Blue-Chip Era Begins | 910 Louisiana

When the building opened in 1971 as One Shell Plaza, it became an immediate symbol of the city’s ascent.

With Shell’s corporate headquarters spanning 40 floors, iconic global law firm Baker Botts as another lead tenant, and The Houston Club, a century-old business institution, proudly occupying the entire 49th floor, the tower embodied ambition, discipline, and corporate power.

A Legacy That Endures
A Legacy That Endures | 910 Louisiana

Across the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, the tower became synonymous with reliability and prestige.

Disciplined upkeep of the building’s infrastructure, systems, and maintenance ensured the building operated at full capacity, supporting global enterprises through multiple market cycles. The building’s stewardship is defined by consistency, financial strength, and a belief in a vibrant future.

A Landmark Reinvented
A Landmark Reinvented | 910 Louisiana

Today, a $50M reinvention ushers the building into its next era.

Amenity spaces, valet and parking services, wellness environments, outdoor terraces, inviting lobbies, and seamless connectivity throughout downtown Houston have been redesigned to meet the expectations of modern firms while honoring the legacy that made 910 Louisiana a Houston original.

This legacy enables a modern workplace to perform at its highest level.