kath Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I've read that the Urban Land Institute's local chapter has formed an awards program in hope to honor "projects of merit" in the Houston region. http://www.uli-houston.org/newsevents/newsevents_070914.htmI've only lived in Houston for 4 years, and I still do not feel like I know all of the "architectural gems" that probably most of you know about. If you had to pick your favorite 5 "must sees" in and around Houston that you would honor with your "award of distinction", what would they be? My current picks (remember, I'm the naive newcomer):Minute Maid Park (this ballpark is absolutely one of the best I've been to)Williams Tower (I like how Philip Johnson also continues into the Galleria w/ streetscapes)SugarLand Town Square development (from a walkable standpoint)Enron Building (even with all of the negative PR-- I really like it)Wortham Center (even though it appears to lack detail, it speaks of it's time)other maybe's (I need to visit these):The MenilHobby Center for Performing ArtsBMC Campus, WestchaseWoodlands Town CenterThe Rice Hotel/Lofts... any impressive "green building" developments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Visit Pennzoil. Don't just look at the spectacular exterior-go inside and see how the interior is integrated with the exterior. It's brilliant. Check out the Menil: Look up and see the light baffles Piano designed then look down at the art illuminated by them. Visit the MFA's Mies addition on Bissonett. It's a great piece of architecture misplaced-IMO. Inside are two great galleries-his original Cullinan Hall and his added Brown Pavillion. Skip the Hobby unless you'r going for a show. The ceiling is lovely and the acoustics are great. BMC is great. I worked on that project originaly and I can tell you the opal-glass elevators were spectacular and the boardroom was decadent in the best sense of the word. Unfortunatly the closest you'll get is a spread in AW. The Woodlands is what it is: a glorified suburb you can find anywhere. If you are closer to Sugarland, it may be just as good a place to travel to if you want to see a replica. The Rice is an old favorite of mine. I saw JFK and Jackie there on Nov. 21, 1963 and had my high school prom there in 1971 in the Grand Ballroom (Now a parking garage). Unless you know someone there, you'll be restricted to the lobby unless you can talk yourself into the Crystal Ballroom. It's one of the best rooms in Houston and my experience has been if you tell that to the powers that be, you'll have no problem getting up there to see it. Green in Houston? What a comedian youe are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Green in Houston? What a comedian youe are! I'm not laughing. http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/Register...egoryID=19& Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I'm not laughing.http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/Register...egoryID=19&Good link. There are 70 LEED buildings listed in Houston, which is pretty good. Esepcailly when compared with an aggressively LEED-oriented city like Chicago, that only has 118. Heck, San Francisco only has 65 listed. Berkeley, California has six. Guess Houston's not as brown as everyone assumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmainguy Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I'm not laughing.Of course you're not. Why state the obvious...again?Heck, San Francisco only has 65 listed.Not too shabby for the 14th largest US municipality to have only 5 less than the 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Of course you're not. Why state the obvious...again?Not too shabby for the 14th largest US municipality to have only 5 less than the 4th.In numbers, I agree with you. The point I was trying to make is that SFO talks and talks and talks about environmental this and environmental that and how bad the rest of the country is, but when the hard numbers are crunched, the results lag the talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kath Posted August 22, 2007 Author Share Posted August 22, 2007 In numbers, I agree with you. The point I was trying to make is that SFO talks and talks and talks about environmental this and environmental that and how bad the rest of the country is, but when the hard numbers are crunched, the results lag the talk.Yes, green is good (I've added a few). So the updated list of Houston's architectural "gems":Minute Maid Park (this ballpark is absolutely one of the best I've been to)Williams Tower (I like how Philip Johnson also continues into the Galleria w/ streetscapes)Sugar Land Town Square development (from a walkable standpoint)Enron Building (even with all of the negative PR-- I really like it)Wortham Center (even though it appears to lack detail, it speaks of it's time)The MenilHobby Center for Performing ArtsBMC Campus, WestchaseWoodlands Town CenterThe Rice Hotel/LoftsMFA's Mies additionPennzoilNASA Building 27 - Astronaut Quarantine Facility (LEED - Silver?)Satterfield & Pontikes-11000 Equity Dr (possibly Houston's first LEED - Gold office building)Anyone else care to add/comment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perimeter285 Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 All good ones.I'd like to add Bank of America Center. It's Houston's signature skyscraper (I guess Williams Tower might rate, too, but you know what I mean). Hard to believe it hasn't been mentioned thus far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texas911 Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Everyone should go to the Menil. Its easily the best piece of architecture in all of Houston, if not Texas. The Kimball is a close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchitecturalPRGirl Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 Yes, green is good (I've added a few). So the updated list of Houston's architectural "gems":Minute Maid Park (this ballpark is absolutely one of the best I've been to)Williams Tower (I like how Philip Johnson also continues into the Galleria w/ streetscapes)Sugar Land Town Square development (from a walkable standpoint)Enron Building (even with all of the negative PR-- I really like it)Wortham Center (even though it appears to lack detail, it speaks of it's time)The MenilHobby Center for Performing ArtsBMC Campus, WestchaseWoodlands Town CenterThe Rice Hotel/LoftsMFA's Mies additionPennzoilNASA Building 27 - Astronaut Quarantine Facility (LEED - Silver?)Satterfield & Pontikes-11000 Equity Dr (possibly Houston's first LEED - Gold office building)Anyone else care to add/comment?NASA's Astronaut Quarantine Facility is just LEED certified, not gold or silver. It's a neat building and the first Green building for the Johnson Space Center.I still love the Hindu mandir in Stafford. This is a mesmerizing worship facility. I highly recommend googling it, then going to see it because the pictures don't even remotely do it justice. Although it doesn't represent Houston's architecture, it represents the cultural diversity that we have. Just google Hindu mandir in Stafford, TX, the name I can't remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 22, 2007 Share Posted August 22, 2007 I still love the Hindu mandir in Stafford. This is a mesmerizing worship facility. I highly recommend googling it, then going to see it because the pictures don't even remotely do it justice. Although it doesn't represent Houston's architecture, it represents the cultural diversity that we have. Just google Hindu mandir in Stafford, TX, the name I can't remember. the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir? wait - you started this thread about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Here are my recomendations: Even though my taste might be very differentI really like the Sakowitz fur shopping center with the green roof (Westheimer @ Post Oak). I think it fits so nicely into the Uptown area, with the flag front and center it almost looks like a fake remake of a train station. But it really stands out with all the other buildings. It might not be a gem, but I can't stop looking at it when I'm at the starbucks there.Also, this 3 or 4 story class A office building on Westhiemer across from the Galleria. It has some big palms infront of it, and a square geometric fountain. Alot of the modern buildings like this can also be found down Richmond. I enjoy the ones with parking lots, and the building is on stilts above it (Specifically the one with the white curved window shades, that remind me of an old nurses' hat. Along by Greenway Plaza, there are two that look like they could belong in the Lincoln Center. And this reposesion bank on Washington @ Waugh. Tiny pillars inbetween the glass, with a roof much larger then the base.This warehouse in the immediate north of Downtown. The Spooky one that is on the Hardy Yards. The Warwick Towers in the museum district.The Williams Tower (of course).Bank of America Center.1 & 2 Houston Center, and Fulbright Tower (from the south).Heritage Plaza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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