By Mike Emery
Staff writer

It’s easy to marvel at Houston’s towering architectural wonders, but imagine circling the Reliant Astrodome or Williams Tower via helicopter.

On Jan. 29, a group of dignitaries were treated to a spectacular helicopter tour of Houston architecture hosted by Joe Mashburn, dean of the University of Houston’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture.

“The tour focused primarily on the work of Philip Johnson,” said Mashburn. “We talked about Johnson and how he is arguably the most important architect of the second half of the 20th century.”

The 40-minute air tour lifted off from one of Johnson’s most visible works in Houston, the Williams Tower – formerly known as the Transco Tower.

“From there, we flew over the Galleria and discussed how it was built from east to west,” he said. “We also discussed how it was a real gamble to construct three levels of retail space, which has obviously paid off.”

Other sites observed included Philip Johnson’s Post Oak Central, and Memorial Park, the largest urban park in Texas and a gift from legendary philanthropist Ima Hogg.

“When the city proposed drilling for the oil in Memorial Park in the 1970s,” Mashburn said. “Ultimately, it was realized that if the city did that, it would be in violation of Ima Hogg’s gift to the city.”

The helicopter then made its way along Buffalo Bayou towards downtown to view Johnson’s Penzoil Place and other skyscrapers. It then flew towards Reliant Stadium and the former home to UH football games, the Reliant Astrodome.

“One of the more interesting things about Reliant Stadium, where the Super Bowl was played, is that the mechanics of its retractable roof were adapted from those used by NASA in its mobile rocket launchers,” he said.

The tour also flew over the Texas Medical Center and the Museum District before swinging by UH to observe campus buildings such as the architecture college and the site of the upcoming Science and Engineering Research and Classroom Complex that is being designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli.

The reactions from those in attendance were quite positive, Mashburn said. Among those on board the helicopter was the Houston bureau chief of the New York Times, who was very impressed with Houston’s collection of unique buildings.

“He thoroughly enjoys Houston,” he said. “He offered many positive contrasts between New York and Houston, which is quite a compliment.”