Esperson buildings
Encyclopedia
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.
The Niels Esperson building is the only complete examples of Italian Renaissance
architecture in Downtown Houston
. 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.
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.
Sherry Thomas of USA Today
said that rumors of the buildings being haunted existed. The ghost of Millie Esperson is said to have haunted the building.
In 2007 Cameron Management Inc. sold the Esperson buildings to Seligman Western Enterprises Ltd.
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
Houston. Mary Ann Azevedo of the Houston Business Journal said that they were "among the most recognizable" buildings in Downtown.
The Niels Esperson building is the only complete examples of Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
architecture in Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
. Designed by theater architect John Eberson
John Eberson
John Eberson was an American architect best known for his movie palace designs in the atmospheric theatre fashion.Born in Czernowitz, Austro-Hungarian Empire , Eberson went to highschool in Dresden and studied electrical engineering in Vienna. He arrived in the United States in 1901 and at first...
, 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
San Pietro in Montorio
San Pietro in Montorio is a church in Rome, Italy, which includes in its courtyard The Tempietto built by Donato Bramante.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1502.
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.
Sherry Thomas of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
said that rumors of the buildings being haunted existed. The ghost of Millie Esperson is said to have haunted the building.
In 2007 Cameron Management Inc. sold the Esperson buildings to Seligman Western Enterprises Ltd.
Popular Culture
- The BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film Sirf TumSirf TumSirf Tum is a Bollywood film directed by Agathian. It was released on 11 June 1999. The film features Sanjay Kapoor, Priya Gill, Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen, Simran Bagga and Jackie Shroff. It is a remake of the National award winning Tamil film Kadhal Kottai, which starred Ajith Kumar and Devayani...
had scenes filmed at the top of the Niels Esperson tower, notably for the song "Dilbar (Beloved)".
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Houston
- List of tallest buildings in Texas
- List of tallest buildings in the United States