HOUSTON - Imagine swimming in a see-through pool with a view 40 stories straight down.
It’s an eye-catching amenity at a new high-rise apartment building in downtown Houston. Developers of the new Market Square Tower call it the highest pool in Texas.
“Looks dangerous,” said one passer-by.
“It’s great,” said another.” “Unbelievable.”
Patrick Harmann and his parents from Germany peered up from Preston Street.
“I want to go swim in there, definitely,” said Harmann. The cool pool is among the fancy features of downtown’s newest apartment building. The first residents started moving in this past weekend.
“We thought it would be a unique feature and, in fact, it has gotten a huge amount of attention,” said Philip Schneidau with Woodbranch Management.
KHOU 11 News got an inside look at the new building. Rent ranges from about $2000 dollars a month to $15,000 for a top floor penthouse. That will put you nearest the sky-high pool.
“There was a little back and forth debate amongst ourselves about whether we wanted to do that glass overhang,” said Schneidau. “And after weeks of discussion, we said let’s go for it.”
The pool was designed with safety in mind. The Plexiglass overhang is eight inches thick. It was inspired by a swimming pool in Dubai and is clearly visible from vantage points around downtown.
“Definitely from pretty far off, you can see it,” said Schneidau. It’s a crowning feature that may help Market Square Tower soar above the city’s apartment market downturn.