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• 15 February 2003 – The Aquarium opens with a gala featuring local and national celebri-
ties. A representative from Houston Architecture Info was initially invited, then a few days later
removed from the guest list. We weren't high profile enough for this event.
1000 MAIN STREET
This building was one of the more anticipated projects to develop on Main Street in the
early 21st century. For years, local businesses, civic groups, and politicians had been promising
that Main Street was going to be the place where Houston comes together, and the city's most
vibrant activity would be.
It wasn't until 2003 that pledge started to become fulfilled by a string of bars and nightclubs
with short life spans. Metro's rail project helped further, but a new 36-storey tower was just the
example big banks and real estate companies need to give them the confidence to take a chance.
The 1000 Main building symbolizes the area's rebirth and was a cornerstone for the down-
town renaissance. The hope was, "if you build it – they will come." Metro's first light rail line is
part of the overall development of the building. A pedestrian plaza and "Super stop" help create
an intermodal transportation center, and link to the city's tunnel system.
The 1000 Main building has a tunnel linking to the Foley's store across the street. Even
though the tunnel between Foley's and the Foley's parking garage is the oldest in the city, it was
isolated from the rest of the tunnel system until this building was erected. It was the first sig-
nificant addition to the tunnel system in years.
In form, the building resembles three tall slabs fashioned together. The left and right flanks
feature a grid of concrete over black glass. The center shaft appears to be blue reflective glass.
And the top of the building is crowned with lights that change color and pattern in the night
sky. Also of note at the massive color-changing panels that slide up the first few storeys of the
building – a visual delight for pedestrians.
The building has a 10-level 1,566-space parking garage. On top of the garage is a two-
storey trading floor for Reliant Resources. On top of the trading floor are 24 storeys of offices.
BISHOP CASTLE
There is an adage that states, "If you want something done right, you have to do it
yourself." The Bishop's castle is an admirable example of that thinking. Started in 1969 by
Jim Bishop, the castle is a bit of architectural fantasy snug against the San Isabel National
Forest in the mountains of Colorado.
The land was destined to become a castle long before Mr. Bishop knew it, himself. But his
neighbors could see it. He started the project intending to erect a cottage with the abundant lo-
cal stone. As that stone was laid around a large water tank, people started to joke that it looked
like the Bishop home beneath a castle turret. It was several years before Mr. Bishop would see
it, too. But once he did, his focus was attenuated – he was going to build a fairy tale castle on
the land he loved. His ideas are so strongly rooted and so well thought out that there are no
blueprints or plans. The king of this castle simply visualizes what he wants the next segment to
look like, and then goes to work bending iron, felling trees, cutting rock and laying mortar.
Decades of work have yielded surprising results. The castle is replete with arches, decorated
with intricate ironwork, and sports a bell tower, a steeple, and stained glass windows. There is
even a dragon on the premises. Its scales are stainless steel scrap from a local hospital, and it
