Houston Welcomes 75th Annual TxA

We're very proud of Houston and the role Page has played in shaping the city, from iconic civic projects to major healthcare facilities to the careful renovation of historical places, and more. It's our pleasure to welcome the 75th annual Texas Society of Architects convention and to be a provider of some the content presented there.

After all, there's no place quite like Houston. We currently have the fastest-growing economy in the United States, nearly five million residents in the greater metropolitan area, an amazing culinary scene representing the more than 90 languages spoken here and over 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations.

To access the George R. Brown Convention Center where TxA 2014 is being held, one must pass Discovery Green, a 12-acre LEED Gold urban oasis in downtown Houston. Page designed the architecture of this award-winning space, which offers visitors a restaurant, a cafe, a pond for sailing toy boats, an interactive water feature, space for dogs and exercise classes, a sustainable garden and a hidden underground garage. It's become an attraction for residents and visitors alike and given the beautiful weather forecast for the convention, is worth a stroll through it. 

Nine blocks away is the 1913 landmark Rice Hotel, located on the site of the original Capitol of the Republic of Texas. In the late 1990s, Page repurposed the long-vacant building into residential lofts and has just been tapped by the new owner to renovate it again. The Rice was one of Page's first projects downtown and a catalyst for the eventual revitalization of the Central Business District. Today, the ground level of the Rice is home to some of the area's most popular restaurants and lounges. 

Speaking of hotels, if you're staying at either the Hotel Icon (220 Main) or Club Quarters (710 Fannin), then you're in properties that have been touched by Page! Be sure to check out the dynamic Market Square catercorner to the Hotel Icon, which often features live music, film screenings and food vendors.  

Art Deco lovers should make the time to visit key structures such as the Gulf (now JP Morgan Chase) Building at 712 Main. Fun fact: the Gulf Building was Houston's tallest skyscraper from 1929 to 1963. Just around the corner at 808 Travis is another Art Deco gem, the Esperson building. The current Page renovation of its interiors includes an improved portal to the famous Downtown Tunnel System, a six-plus mile long network of connectors from the edge of Discovery Green to City Hall, another Art Deco structure at 901 Bagby Street. 

The Page Houston office is one block from City Hall at 1100 Louisiana and our lobby access is adjacent to an open-plan Starbucks. If you need a coffee fix, stop by and then visit us. We were just selected by the Houston Business Journal (HBJ) as one of the coolest offices in the city. Our innovative interior design in a 100-plus foot, seven-story commercial atrium was subsequently featured in Tree of Life, a Terence Malick film starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, and has even served as a performance space. 

If you're physically active, exercise outside! Houston is very proud of the renovations to its Buffalo Bayou greenspace, which offer flood improvements, sustainable landscaping and improved night lighting, enhanced hike and bike trails originating at the edge of downtown near City Hall, public artworks, a skate park and lots of people/dog watching. Page is responsible for the design of its Lost Lake element, currently under construction, and Water Works. 

To see what else is going on in the area, visit the Downtown District's website to see The Guide. Back at TxA 2014, Page has six presenters in attendance so take a look to see if any of their topics apply to you: 

Thursday, November 6

Page Associate Principal Wendy Heger will lead a panel discussion on The Future of Public Library Buildings 
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. 1.50 HSW, 1.50 LUH               

Page Principal Kurt Neubek will present on Beyond Programming: Requirements Management in a Digital Age 
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. 1.50 HSW, 1.50 LUH          

Page Principal Talmadge Smith will present on Case Studies in Creative Daylighting Strategies 
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. 1.00 HSW, 1.00 LUH                

Friday, November 7

Page Senior Principal Lawrence W. Speck will participate in a panel discussion on the future of architectural licensure in Imagining Licensure 
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. 1.00 HSW, 1.00 LUH            

Page Designer Ricardo Munoz will participate in a panel discussion on Young Professionals: From Schoolwork to Builtwork 
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. 1.00 HSW, 1.00 LUH

Saturday, November 8

Page Senior Principal Lawrence W. Speck will present on Ten Cardinal Rules for Talking to Non-Architects about Architecture 
8:00 am - 9:00 am. 1.00 HSW, 1.00 LUH                

Page Principal Wendy Dunnam Tita will lead a panel discussion on Reclaimed: How One Building Built Another 
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. 1.50 HSW, 1.50 LUH               

See you at TxA 2014!