Esperson Buildings

The Niels and Mellie Esperson Buildings are a building complex in downtown Houston, Texas. Mary Ann Azevedo of the Houston Business Journal said that they were "among the most recognizable" buildings in Downtown.[7]

Niels and Mellie Esperson Buildings
The Niels Esperson Building
General information
StatusComplete
TypeCommercial offices
Architectural styleNeoclassical
Art Deco/Art Moderne
LocationTravis and Walker Streets
Houston, Texas
Coordinates29.7590°N 95.3653°W / 29.7590; -95.3653
CompletedNiels tower: 1927
Mellie tower: 1939–1941
Height
RoofNiels tower: 125 m (410 ft)
Mellie tower: 82.9 m (272 ft)
Technical details
Floor countNiels tower: 32
Mellie tower: 19
Floor area570,044 sq ft (52,958.8 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectJohn Eberson
References
[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The Niels Esperson Building is the only complete example of Italian Renaissance architecture in Downtown Houston.[2] Designed by theater architect John Eberson, the Esperson buildings were built in 1927 and 1941, respectively. They are elaborately detailed with massive columns, great urns, terraces, and a grand tempietto at the top, similar to one built in the courtyard of San Pietro in Rome in 1502.[2]

Mellie Esperson had the first of the two buildings constructed for her husband, Niels, a real estate and oil tycoon. His name is carved on the side of the building, above the entrance, in large letters. The name "Mellie Esperson" is carved on the accompanying structure, known as the Mellie Esperson building, although that structure is only a nineteen-story annex to the original Esperson building;[2] thus is the newer of both buildings and it is not as tall. Also, instead of it being of neo-classical design, it was constructed in Art-Deco style.

Sherry Thomas of USA Today said that rumors of the buildings being haunted existed.[8] The ghost of Mellie Esperson is said to have haunted the building.[9] In 2007 Cameron Management Inc. sold the Esperson buildings to Seligman Western Enterprises Ltd.[7]

  • The Bollywood film Sirf Tum had scenes filmed at the top of the Niels Esperson tower, notably for the song "Dilbar (Beloved)".
  • Pamphlet of Neils Esperson Building, 1926
  • The tempietto of the Niels Esperson Building
  • The entrance to the Niels Esperson Building

See also

References
  1. The Esperson Buildings at Emporis
  2. The Esperson Buildings at Glass Steel and Stone (archived)
  3. "Niels Esperson Building". SkyscraperPage.
  4. "Mellie Esperson Building". SkyscraperPage.
  5. Niels Esperson Building at Structurae
  6. Mellie Esperson Building at Structurae
  7. Azevedo, Mary Ann (June 22, 2007). "Cameron cashes in on Espersons". The Houston Business Journal. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  8. Thomas, Sherry (October 30, 2003). "Houston: A city without zoning". USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  9. Berkowitz, Lana (October 21, 2007). "Downtown Houston can be a real ghost town". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
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