Demolition crews have begun working at the base of the 21-story Texas Tower at 608 Fannin St., which will be taken down floor-by-floor. The 85-ish-year-old structure, formerly known as the Sterling Building, stands in the way of Hines’s new, now-47-story 609 Main St. office tower (below), for which excavation and foundation work is scheduled to begin next March. A spokesperson from Hines says there are no plans for an implosion.
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- Previously on Swamplot: Bigger? Taller? Hines To Redesign Proposed 609 Main St. Office Tower, Does New Hines Highrise Mean Old Texas Tower’s a Goner?
Photos: Swamplot inbox; Rendering: Pickard Chilton/Hines
Bit by Bit
What about the San Felipe/River Oaks Hines building? It was supposed to start in November. Does any one have any news?
Why floor by floor?
Is it cheaper? Is there too much Asbestos for an implosion?
“…which will be taken down floor-by-floor.”
Aww mannn, that’s no fun!
I love a good implosion, but at least floor-by-floor makes for a cool time lapse video. Please put up a camera Hines!
The reason for the deconstruction (versus implosion) is the 120-year-old Christ Church Cathedral building across the street. Too risky!
It’s also probably too close to the Magnolia Hotel also.
My guess is since the building is in one corner of the property they have all that maneuvering room to roll a massive crane around with a wrecking ball and they just nibble away at it. Seems like that would be a lot less expensive than blowing it up.