FINAL PHASE OF THE REIMAGINING OF ALLEN CENTER IS UNVEILED
Following a multi-phased repositioning of its landmark asset, Brookfield Properties debuts impressive transformation at Two and Three Allen Center
HOUSTON, March 2, 2021 — Brookfield Properties today unveiled the completed renovations for Phase II of the Reimagining of Allen Center, which focused on upgrades to Two and Three Allen Center in downtown Houston. Capitalizing on the successful renovation of One Allen Center and the repositioning of the C. Baldwin, the transformed Two and Three Allen Center further evolves the campus into an innovative mixed-use destination, offering best-in-class amenities and finishes. Construction for Phase II commenced in April 2019 and the project team included Morrison Dilworth + Walls and PDR, the architects, and Tellepsen, the contractor.
“Allen Center’s premier location and structural framework offered Brookfield Properties the opportunity to elevate this landmark asset into a mixed-use destination that supports our tenants’ desire for a work-life-play lifestyle,” said Travis Overall, Executive Vice President and Head of the Texas Region for Brookfield Properties. “Upon the completion of Two and Three Allen Center, we’ve delivered a 21st century office campus that offers world-class office, retail, and health and wellness amenities for our tenants.”
The reimagined Two Allen Center includes a new two-story lobby, a second-floor outdoor terrace that overlooks The Acre, and updated retail bays. Three Allen Center boasts a renovated lobby, as well as a new wellness offerings. Renovated elevator cabs, new air handling units, and light fixtures are featured in both buildings. New, thermally efficient glass was installed on the first and second floors at Two and Three Allen Center, as well as the skybridge connection between the two buildings. The skybridge that previously connected Two and Three Allen Center was shifted further north, allowing for a more open path of travel between the two towers.
At Three Allen Center, two escalators connecting the street-level to the second floor were removed and replaced with a new set of stairs. The stairs are not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also enhance the connectivity and openness of the street-level entrance. The first level of Three Allen Center offers wellness focused amenities, including The Well, a bike room, and Work & Mother.
Open to all tenants, The Well at Three Allen Center is outfitted with Peloton bikes, rowing machines, stretch mats, towel service, and executive locker rooms and showers. Located on the first floor of Three Allen Center, The Well is in close proximity to Buffalo Bayou Park and offers tenants a space where they may freshen up after utilizing the trails or biking to work. The new bike room includes end- of-trip facilities such as a dedicated, bike-friendly street-level entrance, wall-mounted storage racks for up to 27 bikes, as well as access to servicing tools.
The Well and bike room at Three Allen Center are designed to complement The Met, which will continue to be the primary fitness facility at the Allen Center campus. The Met is a premier indoor tennis and racket facility, and features indoor, air-conditioned tennis courts, racquetball and squash courts, as well as a cardiovascular and strength training center, and a basketball court.
Furthering the concentration of wellness amenities at Three Allen Center is Work & Mother, a network of fully equipped lactation facilities with an associated app for booking, support community, and educational resources for working mothers who are breastfeeding. The new, upscale Work & Mother Suite has 10 private rooms, each equipped with a hospital grade pump, milk storage bags and other supplies; cleaning and sanitizing stations; lockers; refrigeration options; and more. Company memberships to Work & Mother are an easy, cost-effective way for employers to satisfy the nursing mother provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA Section 7(r)). Brookfield Properties collaborated closely with Work & Mother to ensure that the space was impeccably designed, professional, and functional so that working mothers at Allen Center can pump safely and with dignity.
“We enjoyed collaborating with Brookfield Properties and Morrison Dilworth + Walls with an aligned vision of how to improve the tenant experience at the complex. All design details and additions like the Work & Mother space, the fitness/locker facilities, and the bike storage room support Brookfield Properties’ commitment to the health and wellness of the building tenants,” said Doug Hellmann, Principal & Director of Project Delivery at PDR. “We are excited to see the complex repositioned to restore its position as best in market.”
As is with the renovations across their portfolio, Brookfield Properties approached the transformation of Allen Center by showcasing the materiality of their finishes. The well curated natural stones, metal panels, and bronze finishes that adorn Three Allen Center are unadulterated and provide a sense of timelessness and elegant simplicity that complements the landmark asset. The security desks and elevator cabs feature Brazilian quartzite, while the lobbies are ornamented with Picasso Noir stone quarried from Tunisia, Africa. Brookfield Properties purchased high-end commercial-grade custom furniture and custom area rugs for both buildings which were sourced from different locations worldwide, including Italy.
Brookfield Properties completed Phase I of the Reimagining of Allen Center in October 2017. Phase I included the transformation of One Allen Center’s lobby with a modern two-story glass façade; a re- clad, transparent sky bridge that connects One and Two Allen Center; and The Acre, a vibrant, one- acre greenspace located in the heart of One, Two, and Three Allen Center. In December 2019, Guard and Grace, the award-winning modern steakhouse led by famed Denver restaurateur Chef Troy Guard, opened its doors at One Allen Center. The 15,000 square foot restaurant serves as the culinary anchor for the campus.
“The opportunity to again collaborate with the Brookfield Properties design team allowed Morrison Dilworth + Walls to complete what we began with the renovation of One Allen Center and the C. Baldwin Hotel façade. As was the case with that first phase, our primary goal was to transform these buildings into a state-of-the-art, work environment that brings more to the tenants than just office space,” said Mark Dilworth, Principal of Morrison Dilworth + Walls.
“The design partnership we enjoyed with PDR allowed us to blend our respective points of view to produce a forward looking, clear design, with an essential timeless quality. We wanted to create a fresh and unique spirit for each individual building, while maintaining unity through an overriding principle of connecting all the major circulation, public spaces, retail and restaurant tenants, to the one-acre green space that is the heart of the property. Today there is a lot of discussion in the design community about biophilic design – the value of connecting people to the natural environment. Allen Center is a very clear demonstration of this idea,” said Dilworth.
In October 2019, Brookfield Properties debuted the completed transformation of Allen Center’s anchor hotel, the C. Baldwin, formerly the DoubleTree Hotel. Inspired by Charlotte Baldwin Allen, “The Mother of Houston,” the C. Baldwin offers 354 guest rooms and more than 14,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space. C. Baldwin is also home to Rosalie Italian Soul from Top Chef Master Chris Cosentino, non-toxic beauty destination Paloma, and curated boutique Sloan/Hall.
Brookfield Properties has made a significant capital investment in downtown Houston, as seen through the recently completed renovations at the iconic Houston Center campus and Total Plaza. Renovations to Heritage Plaza, which is adjacent to the Allen Center campus, are approaching completion.
Allen Center photography can be found here. Photography by Peter Molick, courtesy of Brookfield Properties.
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About Brookfield Properties
Brookfield Properties is a leading global developer and operator of high-quality real estate assets. We are active in nearly all real estate sectors, including office, retail, multifamily, hospitality and logistics, operating more than 675 properties and more than 325 million square feet of real estate in gateway cities around the globe on behalf of Brookfield Asset Management, one of the largest asset managers in the world. With a focus on sustainability, a commitment to excellence, and the drive for relentless innovation in the planning, development and management of buildings and their surroundings, Brookfield Properties is reimagining real estate from the ground up. For more information, visit www.brookfieldproperties.com.
Media Contact Nataly Torres, Elmore Public Relations, (281) 745-3566, [email protected]