Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

Designers: Philip Johnson (architect) | City: Houston, TX | Project Type: fountain Date Visited: 1.24.13

Location: 2800 S. Post Oak Blvd. Houston, TX
Size: 2.77 acre
Official Opening Date: 1985

One of Houston’s most visited urban parks, the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park inspires feelings of awe and peace with its loud and powerful waterfalls, cascading water down from a towering height of 64-feet. Designed by Pulitzer Prize winning architect Philip Johnson, this large semi-circular fountain is located south across a wide green lawn flanked by 186 live oaks, facing the Williams Tower, a 64-story reflective office building. This 2.77-acre park marks the community centerpiece of Uptown Houston, the nation`s largest business district outside of a historic core.

Previously known as the Williams Waterwall, the City of Houston renamed the site on December 17, 2009 to honor Gerald D. Hines for his impact and influence on Houston’s urban development in the past six decades. The Williams Tower, then known as the Transco Tower, was one of hundreds of buildings that he developed as founder and chairman of Hines, a real estate firm headquartered in Houston. His name may seem most familiar from one of Urban Land Institute’s design awards named in his honor, the ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition.

President of the Uptown Houston District John Breeding’s statement in a press release:

“Gerald Hines` passion for green spaces has forever changed the landscape of cities around the world. His vision has helped Uptown Houston be what it is today, a vibrant and bustling market where people can live, work and play. We are honoring Mr. Hines` dedication to catapulting the city of Houston in the international scene by naming this iconic fountain and park in his honor.”

11,000 gallons of water per minute cascades down the structure’s inner and outer walls, coating visitors in mist. It was cold on a winter day in January, but the larger-than-life man-made waterfall still saw many visitors; the Waterwall often makes it on the list for tourists to Houston.