Esperson buildings

The Niels Esperson Building seen from the JP Morgan Chase Tower

The Niels and Mellie Esperson buildings are a group of buildings in Downtown Houston. Mary Ann Azevedo of the Houston Business Journal said that they were "among the most recognizable" buildings in Downtown.^[1]

The Niels Esperson building is the only complete examples 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]

Pamphlet of Neils Esperson Building, 1926

Mellie Esperson had the first of the two buildings constructed for her husband, Niels, a real estate and oil tycoon, and 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 it is really just a nineteen-story annex to the original Esperson building.^[2]

Sherry Thomas of USA Today said that rumors of the buildings being haunted existed.^[3] The ghost of Millie Esperson is said to have haunted the building.^[4] In 2007 Cameron Management Inc. sold the Esperson buildings to Seligman Western Enterprises Ltd.^[1]

Popular Culture

• The Bollywood film Sirf Tum had scenes filmed at the top of the Niels Esperson tower, notably for the song "Dilbar (Beloved)".

Gallery

• 

  The tempietto of the Niels Esperson Building

• 

  The entrance to the Niels Esperson Building

See also

Houston portal

• List of tallest buildings in Houston
• List of tallest buildings in Texas
• List of tallest buildings in the United States

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Azevedo, Mary Ann. "Cameron cashes in on Espersons." Houston Business Journal. Friday June 22, 2007. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Esperson Buildings". Architecture of Houston, www.glasssteelandstone.com. http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/US/TX/HoustonEsperson.html. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
3. ^ Thomas, Sherry. "Houston: A city without zoning." USA Today. October 30, 2003. Retrieved on October 6, 2009.
4. ^ Berkowitz, Lana. "Downtown Houston can be a real ghost town." Houston Chronicle. October 21, 2007. Retrieved on March 7, 2010.

Preceded by Magnolia Hotel (Houston)	Tallest Building in Houston 1927—1929 125m	Succeeded by JPMorgan Chase Building
Preceded by Magnolia Hotel (Dallas, Texas)	Tallest Building in Texas 1927—1929 125m	Succeeded by JPMorgan Chase Building (Houston 1929)

Coordinates: 29°45′32″N 95°21′55″W / 29.7590°N 95.3653°W / 29.7590; -95.3653