| Houston Tower | |
| Location: | Houston, Texas |
| Roof: | 6863feet |
| Floor Count: | 500 |
| Cost: | USD 1.5 billion |
The Houston Tower was a plan for a 500-story skyscraper conceived in the 1970s to be built in Houston, originally designed as a research project for the feasibility of a 500-story building.[1] American Architect Robert B. Sobel of Emery Roth & Sons, with engineer and fellow American Nat W. Krahl of Rice University, created a concept for a 500-story building made from 200-foot sided bundled triangular tubes.[2] [3] Sobel had theorized the construction of a 500-story building as early as 1947.[4]
According to Emery Roth & Sons, the project showed that the technology and materials existed to build a 500-story (or taller) building if someone wished to do so.[5] Since its first inception, it has remained one of the tallest buildings ever fully envisioned, and would have taken up 16 city blocks of 250x250 feet if constructed.[2] Its design features are reminiscent of the Sears Tower, which utilizes a similar construction pattern albeit on a smaller scale.