CBM Engineers loading
Pennzoil Place
Pennzoil Place

Pennzoil Place

Houston, TX

36 Stories

The two tower, 45 degree split geometry of Pennzoil Place distinguishes it against the backdrop of the average skyscraper. Its sharp inflected planes reconcile at an angular glass atrium. It has a centralized composite structure terminating in hat trusses. The structure was created with the innovative application of sequential load analysis: a method which consists of applying gravity loads to structural members for ever changing stiffness as the building frame is constructed.

The application of sequential load analysis allowed for the real world assessment of loading conditions with or without the hat trusses that allowed for the architecturally distinct form to take shape.