An unnamed global financial services firm has leased 250K SF at 600 Travis St., a 75-story office building in Downtown Houston.

Houston-based developer Hines owns and manages the 1.7M SF building, formerly known as the JPMorgan Chase Center. In addition to the new lease, the building is undergoing major renovations, according to a press release.

Improvements include significant updates to the lobby and exterior plaza; the addition of connected, collaborative workspaces and enhancements; and the addition of a conference center that can accommodate up to 150 people in various rooms over two floors.

As part of a reimagined entrance and building processional, the five-story curtainwall will be altered from its current chrome and glass grid into a trapezoidal pyramid, which will add almost 3K SF to the lobby.

Hines also said the plaza area has been underutilized and will be transformed into an urban garden, with a variety of seating areas, more green space, an expanded canopy and more connections from the outdoors to the building. Retail will be added to the lobby, and new food and beverage options will be added to the plaza. The sky lobby on the 60th floor will be redesigned as an exclusive Sky Lounge for tenants to enjoy, with elegant furnishings and seating vignettes. Additionally, building security systems will be upgraded.

The revitalization was designed by architecture firm HOK.

600 Travis St. was originally developed by Hines for Texas Commerce Bancshares. It was designed by New York-based I.M. Pei & Partners, and is the tallest building in Texas. Hines, in partnership with Cerberus Capital Management, acquired the building in October 2019.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Michael Anderson, Diana Bridger and Margaret Elkins, as well as law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Chanse McLeod, represented the landlord in the lease transaction.