Gerald D. Hines
Waterfall Park

Want a unique Houston experience? You can’t miss the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park if you are looking for essential Houston! 

Located right in the heart of the city, the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is one of Houston’s most visited and beloved attractions. It’s an iconic landmark and community centerpiece loved by visitors of all ages. 

The waterwall is a multi-story sculptural fountain that sits opposite the south face of Williams Tower in the Uptown District of Houston. It was built as an architectural amenity for the adjacent tower. 

The waterwall consists of a beautiful curving wall with water cascading down the front, framed by three arches in the front. You can enter through the arches from the smooth green lawn leading up to the sculpture, and inside the courtyard, you will feel the cool spray from the cascade and hear the thunder of the water as it plummets to the ground. 

If you are looking for a memorable, all-Houston experience, you can’t miss this iconic landmark! 

And how did this amazing sculpture come to be? 

John Burgee Architects and Philip Johnson, along with developer Gerald D. Hines began designing and building the Transco Tower complex in 1982. They completed the tower in 1983, and built the waterwall as an ornament for the grounds. The waterwall was completed in 1985. 

They designed the waterwall to be a “horseshoe of rushing water” opposite the Transco Tower. The semi-circular wall is 64 feet high, symbolizing the 64 stories in the tower, and it is surrounded by 118 Texas live oak trees and a wide, grassy lawn. The three arches in the front face the Transco Tower. 

Water cascades down the wall on both sides, with 46,500 square feet of water covering the concave side and 35,000 square feet covering the convex side, flowing down in channels. The visual effect is striking and can be enjoyed from all angles. The fountain runs on 78,500 gallons of water, which is recycled every three hours and two minutes. 

Here are a few fun facts about the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall: 

• The waterwall surfaces are black obsidian aggregate. 
• An incredible 11,000 gallons of water fall down over the wall every minute. 
• The three arches in front are made from St. Joe brick with a black granite base. The three arches are called the “scaenae frons.” (pronounced “skay-nigh fronz”)