Williams Tower with Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

The 64-story Williams Tower (originally the Transco Tower) in the Uptown District was designed by New York–based John Burgee Architects in association with Houston-based Morris-Aubry Architects. Completed in 1982, Williams Tower is the fourth tallest building in Texas, the tallest in Houston outside of downtown and consequently one of Houston’s most visible buildings as it stands well above its district neighbors. Impressive at night, the Williams Tower has a rotation beacon on top, making it visible and distinct from miles around. Opposite the south face of the Williams Tower in Houston’s Uptown District sits the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park. Standing proudly amid 18 acres of oak trees, the park and its features have attracted visitors since 1985. The park’s main feature, a multistory sculptural fountain called The Water Wall, was built by John Burgee Architects with Philip Johnson as an architectural amenity to the Williams Tower. The Water Wall sends 78,500 gallons of water down its face every three hours via a recycling mechanism that continues until the lights are turned off at the end of the day, making it a significant icon and destination for locals and visitors alike.

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