Greenway Plaza

Greenway Plaza
Business district of Houston
Skyline of Greenway Plaza looking north
Skyline of Greenway Plaza looking north
Coordinates: 29°43′58″N 95°25′54″W / 29.7327°N 95.4318°W / 29.7327; -95.4318
Country United States
State Texas
CountyHarris County
City Houston
Area
 • Super neighborhood7.7 km2 (2.97 sq mi)
 • Business campus21 ha (52 acres)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total21,120
 • Density2,746/km2 (7,111/sq mi)
 For the Greenway / Upper Kirby Area Super Neighborhood as defined by the City of Houston
ZIP Code
77046
Area codes281, 346, 713, 832
Websitegreenwayplaza.pky.com
A typical street sign in Greenway Plaza

Greenway Plaza is a business district located along Interstate 69 (U.S. Highway 59) within the Interstate 610 loop in southwestern Houston, Texas, 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Downtown and 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Uptown. The district is located immediately west of Upper Kirby, north of West University Place, and south of River Oaks.

First envisioned in the late 1960s by local developer Kenneth L. Schnitzer,[1] Greenway Plaza has evolved into one of Greater Houston's largest employment centers, with over 4.4 million square feet (410,000 m2) of office space on a 52-acre (21-hectare) campus.[2] Noted for its expansive green spaces and consistent modernist architectural style, Greenway Plaza is widely considered a pioneering example of mixed-use development in the United States.[1][2][3] The campus's ten office towers are connected by an extensive system of air-conditioned skyways, tunnels, and underground parking garages.[2]

Greenway Plaza contains Lakewood Church, a nondenominational Christian church, which hosts one of the largest congregations in the United States. Lakewood's main campus, a venue originally known as "The Summit" and later "Compaq Center," is the former home of the Houston Rockets, a professional basketball team, as well as other sporting teams, concerts, and events.[4] Lakewood Church purchased the property in 2005.[4]

The Greenway Plaza development is part of a larger neighborhood, Greenway/Upper Kirby, which covers a 2.97-square-mile (7.7 km2) area roughly enclosed by Westheimer Road to the north, Bissonnet Street to the south, Uptown Houston to the west, and Shepherd Drive to the east.[5] In 2015, Greenway/Upper Kirby had an estimated population of 21,120 and a population density of 7,111/sq mi.[5]

  1. ^ a b Hershey, Robert D. Jr. (1999-11-03). "Kenneth L. Schnitzer, 70, Dies; Innovative Houston Developer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  2. ^ a b c "Greenway Plaza ahead of its time while being timeless". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  3. ^ Sarnoff, Nancy (2017-05-15). "A Greenway for the Future". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  4. ^ a b Hlavaty, Craig (2015-11-12). "Houston building formerly known as The Summit turns 40 this month". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  5. ^ a b "Super Neighborhood Resource Assessment – Greenway / Upper Kirby" (PDF). City of Houston. August 2014. Retrieved 2017-09-15.