HKS is trading its downtown Houston address for a taller one.
The Dallas-based architecture heavyweight, known locally for its work on Baylor St. Luke’s O’Quinn Medical Tower and an NRG Park design study, signed a lease for 11,200 square feet at JPMorgan Chase Tower, the Houston Business Journal reported.
The deal shifts HKS from the Jones on Main complex, at 712 Main Street, into 600 Travis Street, the 75-story flagship owned by Hines, the Houston developer with a long history of reinvesting in its skyline-defining properties.
Cresa’s Christopher Schafer and Dustin Cruz represented HKS, while Hines tapped a Partners Real Estate team of Michael Anderson, Brad Beasley and Diana Bridger — part of the high-profile brokerage practice now led by Chip Colvill — to secure the tenant.
A $25 million renovation in 2021 repositioned the 1980s tower as a more contemporary workplace.
The project revamped the first- and second-floor lobbies, enhanced tunnel access and modernized the exterior plaza. A new conference center spans two floors and can host up to 150 people, while the former 60th-floor Sky Lobby has been reimagined as a tenants-only “Sky Lounge.”
The aesthetic centerpiece is a glass pyramid entry inspired by the Louvre — a subtle nod to I.M. Pei & Partners, which designed the tower. Restaurant tenants and outdoor seating areas aimed at creating pedestrian engagement have also helped the building stand out in a downtown still battling post-pandemic foot traffic challenges. The refresh has been key to Hines retaining existing tenants and winning new ones, Beasley said.
HKS is active in Houston’s civic and institutional planning. Earlier this year, it was among several architecture groups that submitted concepts for a potential overhaul of NRG Park. HKS’ contributions centered on layouts for NRG Arena, though broader master planning is in progress, and no redesigns have been approved.
Beasley’s team has stayed busy elsewhere, recently brokering a 4,000-square-foot lease for Trammell P.C. at San Felipe Place in River Oaks. The deal brought the boutique Class A building to more than 95 percent leased, a notable benchmark in a market where newer trophy-level space is scarce. JLL’s Anya Marmuscak, who represented the law firm, said the group prioritized newer construction and room to grow.
— Eric Weilbacher
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