About Frankel Building Group

Based in Houston, Frankel Building Group is a family-owned custom home builder established in 1988. The firm offers one-stop-shop services to clients, and that includes everything from interior design to construction. The chairman and founder of the firm is Jim Frankel who graduated from The University of Texas. Frankel is known as one of the first Graduate Master Builders in the United States, and he built the first custom home in Cinco Ranch. Frankel was also a former president and served on the executive committee of the board of directors for the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA). Frankel Building Group has received numerous awards, including the Best in American Living for Single-Family Custom by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in 2020. In the same year, the firm was given the Custom Builder Grand Award by the Texas Association of Home Builders Star Awards. In 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2016, the firm received the Grand Award as Houston’s Best Custom Builder. Additionally, Frankel Building Group’s work has been featured in a number of publications, including the Authority Magazine, Houston Chronicle, and Forbes.

Featured Projects

One of the well-known works by the firm is the Lake Kent project. It is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified transitional home. Since 2010, Frankel Building Group has been customizing LEED-certified homes which promote better air quality, water efficiency, and energy saving.

About Aspire Fine Homes

Founded by David Gordon, Aspire Fine Homes is an award-winning luxury custom home builder. The firm has been recognized for its meticulous attention to detail and superior craftsmanship. It offers all-inclusive design-build services and promotes efficiency throughout the entire construction process. The goal of the firm is to help clients elevate their lifestyles via a high-quality luxury home. Aspire Fine Homes’s impressive projects are award-winning. In 2020, the firm won the Best Custom Home Elevation in the $750,000 to $1 million category from GHBA Awards. In 2019, it won the Best Custom Home Elevation in the $1 to $1.5 million. In 2017, the firm was recognized in the Star Awards by the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) winning the Custom Builder Best Kitchen in the $750,000 to $1 million category.

Featured Projects

The firm has worked on transitional-themed homes, including the project featured here. The living room features a modern look with neutral colors and clean lines. The presence of large windows in the living room makes it more spacious and welcoming to guests.

About Matt Powers

Matt Powers Custom Homes & Renovations is made up of a team of specialized craftsmen and professionals that work side by side with clients on each project. The firm integrates traditional processes with modern construction technology to come up with an efficient design. The firm is a recognized full-service custom home builder that prioritizes integrity, professionalism, and experience. The firm is led and owned by Matt Powers. Matt has more than 20 years of industry experience in The Woodlands and Houston. Powers obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Finance from Baylor University, and he has been building homes since 1992. He is also a LEED Certified Specialist and well-known for his green building techniques. In 2022, the firm was a TAB Star Award Winner in six categories and in four categories in 2020. The firm also won during the GHBA Best Prism Awards in 2015. More than that, Matt Powers Custom Homes and Renovations has been featured in publications such as Houston Design Magazine, Houston Business Journal, and Houston Chronicle.

Featured Projects

A featured project by the firm is this classic contemporary-style home. The custom home features a neutral color scheme, big windows, and light wood floors throughout the interior.

About On Point Custom Homes

On Point Custom Homes has been building unique and high-quality homes in Houston since 2004. The firm has been recognized as one of the leading luxury custom home builders in the area for consistently designing and building homes with cutting-edge technology and exceeding client expectations. The firm has a team of talented architects, designers, and construction professionals who work together to create one-of-a-kind homes and impressive floor plans that will suit each individual client’s lifestyle and needs. On Point Custom Homes was founded by John Leggett. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina. Since starting his own custom build firm, Leggett has prioritized the use of the latest building techniques and technologies. He is a Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) and a Graduate Master Builder (GMB) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The firm has received numerous awards, including the Best Outdoor Living Space in the $750,000 to $1 million category from the TAB Star Awards and the Prism Award for Best Home Elevation from the GHBA. Its work has also been included in several publications such as Houston Chronicle, Culture Map Houston, and Modern Architecture + Design Society.

Featured Projects

The Houston Heights Modern Farmhouse project was finished in 2019. The custom home has three stories, shingle roofing, and concrete fiberboard siding. A highlight of the project is the kitchen which includes gray cabinets with gold handles, a long island with a farmhouse sink, a blue backsplash, and quartzite countertops.

About Partners in Building

Partners in Building has been in the industry since 1986 offering one-of-a-kind luxury homes. The firm services clients in Texas, especially in Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, and Austin. The firm’s principal is Jim Lemming. From 2007 to 2020, the firm has been consecutively awarded in the Star Awards as a four-time winner of the Builder of the Year, seven-time winner of Best Product Design, and six-time winner of the Best Custom Home. On top of that, the firm is also a three-time winner for Best Product Design, two-time winner of Best Patio Home Design, and three-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award by Houston’s Best Prism Awards by the GHBA.

Featured Projects

A well-known project by Partners in Building is this contemporary home in Cinco Ranch. The project features a neutral interior, high ceilings, and large windows. A highlight of the custom home is the transitional kitchen that includes a spacious island, an L-shaped counter, white cabinets, and stainless steel appliances.

About Alair Homes Houston

Alair Homes Houston is a well-known firm that specializes in a range of custom build homes as well as retirement villas and multi-million dollar estates. The firm offers full service from a detailed consultation up to the final construction. The regional partners for the firm are Chris Bolio and Michelle Bolio. Chris graduated from Texas A&M University and offers 18 years of experience in custom home building. He is also the treasurer of the GHBA Custom Builder’s Council. Meanwhile, Michelle is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. The firm has been a recipient of numerous awards throughout the years, as recognition for its admirable portfolio of previous projects. The firm was given the Prism Award for Best Custom Home Design for $2 million and over by the GHBA. In 2017, it was awarded the Prism Award for Best Custom Kitchen for $500,000 to $750,000 by the GHBA. The firm was also featured in the Houston Builder Magazine, Metropolitan Builder, and Houston Chronicle.

Featured Projects

This impressive custom home in Willow Creek Ranch was completed in 2019. It is a one-story modern-themed ranch with walnut floors, cantilevered shelves, stunning architectural design, beautiful lighting fixtures, and huge windows.

About David James Custom Builder

Known for building high-end custom homes, David James Custom Builder takes advantage of smart home technologies in its design-build projects. The firm pays close attention to every project from conception to completion to help clients achieve their dream homes. The firm is owned by David James “DJ” Palmore who finished a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Louisiana State University.

Featured Projects

Due to the firm’s past projects, its work has been featured in the press, including Luxe Houston in 2019 and 2021, as well as Modern Luxury Interiors Texas in 2020. One of the firm’s projects is this beautiful custom home that received the People’s Choice Award in the 2014 West University Showcase of Homes. The two-story custom build features a transitional style and a white exterior with black trimmings. Throughout the interior of the home, the color scheme of black and white with a pop of black and gold remains consistent.

About Arch-Con Corporation

Established in 2000 as a resource for the local commercial real estate community, Arch-Con Corporation is a company with expertise in office, corporate interiors, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, retail, multifamily and community construction. The firm is led by Michael Scheurich, whose passion for construction and architecture led him to obtain a bachelor’s degree in construction science from Texas A&M University. It was when Michael earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston that he decided to establish Arch-Con.

Featured Projects

The firm has completed projects for many big names in various industries such as Hines, Howard Hughes Corporation, Hilton, Marriott, Farmers Market, Kroger, Whole Foods, and more. Another example of the firm’s work on a large project is The Affordable Housing Operations Center in Houston. This center is a five-story, 64,500-square-foot core and shell office building that houses a number of organizations engaged in affordable housing advocacy, administration, and support services. The buildings’ first and fifth floors have space for community gatherings. Designed by Kirksey Architecture, the project also includes an 80,700-square-foot, four-story open parking garage and a three-story, 20-unit residential building. The site has historical significance for African-American heritage and the building’s design is inspired by that rich, varied history.

About Maxx Builders

Based in Houston, Maxx Builders is a second-generation family business whose growth in the last decade has been skyrocketing. Maxx Builders has been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in North America. With offices in Dallas and Houston—and one on the way in Austin—the firm is able to extend its services across Texas, building major projects in retail, hospitality, corporate interiors, gas stations, medical clinics, restaurants, and franchises. Past clients have included Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hilton, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Wyndham Hotel Group.

Featured Projects

One example of the firm’s work is the 20,000 square-foot Minonite Retail Center in Rosenberg. The ground-up new construction was completed by Maxx Builders in 2019, and now, the area is undergoing rapid commercial and residential development, with numerous master-planned communities surrounding it. Its location makes Minonite Retail Center the perfect place for extra-curricular schools such as swim, taekwondo, and tutoring schools, pet supply stores, restaurants, medical offices, and other specialty stores. Additionally, Maxx Builders also built the 5,000 square-foot Anytime Fitness interior build-out in this retail center.

About Construction Concept

Construction Concept is one of Houston’s most sought-after commercial design-build firms. Under the leadership of its founder and president—Joshua Weisman—the firm has completed over $40 million of contracted work. The company was also recently named by the Houston Business Journal as one of the “Fast 100” of 2018 among the fastest-growing companies in the greater Houston area.

Featured Projects

The firm’s completed work includes everything from healthcare to hospitality and restaurant building. The firm has also ventured into the fitness and athletic industries. An example of its work is the Acme Oyster restaurant in Houston; Construction Concept provided a complete interior buildout. From the outside, the oyster house favors a classic look, mimicking the theaters of old and their charmingly dated appearance. Inside, this look continues in the washed brick and stucco walls and the checkered tablecloths. Perhaps the most stunning attribute of the restaurant is the oyster bar, which features luminescent and personalized lighting fixtures that hang over the bar in a grand set-up.

About Level Construction

With offices in Chicago and Houston, Level Construction is a building firm that specializes in both commercial and residential properties throughout these cities and their neighboring suburbs. The firm’s services include additions, remodeling, renovations, new building construction, traditional project coordination, execution in general contracting, construction management, and design-build.

Featured Projects

Some of the firm’s previous clients include Marriott, McDonald’s, Jollibee, Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, Holiday Inn, Hilton, Jack in the Box, Hyatt, Burger King, and Baskin Robbins. Another great example of the firm’s work is the Lush Cosmetics store in Houston Galleria. The firm completed the interior buildout for the retail project. The result is the sleek and stylish layout that all Lush users know and love. Various nooks and shelves line the walls, bearing bath and skincare essentials for the discerning shopper. Thanks to Level’s work, the structure of the store serves to enhance the playfulness suggested by bath bombs and shower products. Working with an established layout and a well-known brand proved to be no large task for the firm.

About CTC Contractors

CTC Contractors is a one-stop-shop for virtually every construction need. The firm began by specializing in restaurant, retail, office, and industrial design-build construction. In 2010 the firm expanded to accommodate the markets of healthcare, automotive, financial, capital improvements, hospitality, and ground-up construction. Leading the firm is John Crescenzi, a visionary with a mission to offer turn-key services and resources to the local commercial market.

Featured Projects

Previous clients of the firm include Porsche and McLaren. Another client was the restaurant chain Bernie’s Burger Bus – Heights. The firm completed general contracting work for the food chain, and the results were very consistent with the overarching motif of the restaurant. Inside, a school bus figure stands proudly to the building’s side, highlighting the dishes and condiments area. The waiting area is outfitted with lockers to mimic the inside of a school hallway. The bar area is painted in a vibrant orange color and the topmost shelves display trophies alongside the drink menu and offerings.

About Metzger Construction Co.

Metzger Construction is a commercial general contractor that specializes in industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities, low-rise office buildings, and medical facilities. The firm was founded in 1987 and has been family-owned and operated for over 25 years. Metzger serves the Greater Houston area, as well as Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin. The firm is led by James Metzger, a highly-respected leader and contributor to the commercial and industrial construction industry.

Featured Projects

One example of the firm’s work is the CVS Pharmacy in Houston. CVS is an important brand, dispensing millions of prescriptions every year and providing important healthcare services to Americans everywhere. This location in Houston was no different, and for this build, the firm completed a new single-story steel and brick framed retail store with an interior buildout. The result of its work was the consistent, iconic brand of CVS.

About Rise Construction

Rise Construction is a general contractor specializing in residential and commercial restoration, remodeling, additions, teardowns, and build-ups. The firm is led by Jivar Foty, a builder who understands that choosing the right renovator to transform commercial spaces can make or break a project. In addition to its basic services, the firm provides exceptional standards in cost control, planning, scheduling, and project safety.

Featured Projects

When it comes to commercial work, the firm builds offices, manufacturing plants, medical centers, hotels, restaurant establishments, and retail shopping centers. In addition to keeping designs in line with client specifications, the Rise Construction team also ensures that every build is bacteria repelling and adaptable. A notable example of the firm’s commercial work is the Heights House Hotel in Houston, pictured above.

About Cactus Commercial

Serving all of Texas, Cactus Commercial is a general contractor dedicated to providing value-added construction services for its clients. The firm is led by Kevin Harris, a builder who has been in the construction industry for over 39 years. The Cactus team comprises skilled professionals with expertise in managing each phase of project delivery. The firm employs subcontractors who have demonstrated the highest quality of work and who employ exemplary safety standard practices.

Featured Projects

Thanks to its partnerships with these skilled subcontractors, as well as its own in-house team, the firm has been able to complete projects for big-name businesses such as Walgreens and Starbucks. When it came to its work on the Starbucks location in Spring, Texas, the firm had to work with an established brand and design. Cactus was able to make this 2,200-square-foot location a standout from its sister stores in the area. The firm completed construction on the project, working with architect Levinson-Alcoser Associates, LP for the branch’s design.

About Structura

Structura is a commercial general contractor firm specializing in the sectors of healthcare, advanced technology, institutional, industrial, retail, and corporate offices. The firm is led by Rusty Morgan, a builder who has headed the management of roughly $2 billion worth of technically-challenging, fast-track, and design-build projects throughout all industry sectors. Under Rusty’s leadership, the firm has flourished in its practice, building long-lasting relationships with clients based on its incredible ability to exceed expectations.

Featured Projects

One of the firm’s most outstanding completed projects is the one located in Houston itself. The ground-up construction project for iFLY Houston in Oak Ridge North involved the creation of an indoor skydiving facility with a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. iFLY used aerodynamically efficient wind tunnels, made by SkyVenture, which were also designed to yield wall-to-wall airflow in the flight section of the tunnel. The floor of the flight chamber is a trampoline floor of aircraft-quality stainless steel. The fans are capable of top wind speeds of approximately 160+ miles per hour. In addition to all these, the iFLY facility also has a private meeting space for room rentals and team-building activities.

About Anlarr Construction

Anlarr Construction is a full-service construction firm that offers commercial construction to clients in Texas. Established in 2016, the firm employs targeted operations that have allowed it to work on big names in custom homes, hotel franchises, restaurants, grocery stores, educational buildings, healthcare buildings, banks, entertainment venues, and warehouse buildings.

Featured Projects

The firm continues to grow its reputation through the different projects it takes on in various industry sectors. One example of its work is the Popeyes restaurant in Lumberton. The fast-food chain has its roots in Louisiana and is famous for its delicious fried chicken. As a sole location in Lumberton, the Popeyes in this area was built by Anlarr Construction from the ground up to cater to the fast-food needs of area residents. The design of the restaurant is open and bright, with the brand’s signature orange color running through the store’s design. For the firm, working with an established brand proved to be an easy task. The firm managed to create a Popeyes in a recognizable style while adding a touch of its own to the structure.

About Brazos Contractors

Brazos Contractors is a prolific building practice that has completed over 900 projects in 13 states. The firm has assisted many clients over the last fourteen years in providing new exterior façades and interior renovations, as well as the addition of leasable square footage on properties. Brazos is led by Robert Cranshaw Jr., who is involved in the day-to-day operations of the firm in planning, new business development, customer relations, and finance/accounting decisions.

Featured Projects

In particular, Brazos is a specialist in all types of interior finishes and its repeat customers include Starbucks, Domino’s, American General Finance, and Jersey Mike’s Subs. Another example of the firm’s work is the MOD Pizza location in Austin. MOD Pizza was a tenant improvement that included a demo of an existing space through the completion of a brand new Pizza Concept in NW Austin. The interior features booths, swivel chair seating, and creative collage walls.

About Steinberg Dickey Collaborative

With its far-reaching influence and its prominence in the industry, Steinberg Dickey Collaborative is a full-service architectural practice with a focus on multifamily residential design. To date, the firm has completed over 3,500 projects throughout the United States, encompassing over 750,000 residential units with site amenities and services such as swimming pools, parks, and lounge areas. Aside from this specialty, the firm also works in mixed-use, and student, and senior housing developments. The prolific practice is proudly led by Sanford Steinberg, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), who was installed into the National Association of Home Builders Best in American Living (NAHB BALA) Hall of Fame in 2017.

Featured Projects

One example of the firm’s work is the Residences at Hardy Yards in Houston. With 350 units spread over nearly 5 acres, the Residences at Hardy Yards provides an abundance of space in each unit. Amenities include common areas, a swimming pool, lounge areas, and a common area kitchen. Units vary in size from studio to three-bedroom apartments, giving the Residences a varied demographic, from single tenants to entire families.

About Jackson & Ryan Architects

When Jackson & Ryan Architects opened its doors in 1986, it was with the goal of offering unmatched architectural services in the following markets: animal welfare, civic, education, homes, hospitality, master plans, multifamily, museums, office, religious, and sports. The firm is led by managing principal Guy Jackson, AIA, an architect also certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Guy manages the firm’s financial and administrative affairs while also taking on the roles of Principal in Charge and Design Principal for many of the firm’s projects.

Featured Projects

One example of the firm’s work on a multifamily project is the One Park Place in Houston. The award-winning 37-floor, 347-unit luxury residential tower has a spectacular view of Houston’s Discovery Green and derives its architectural motifs from traditional urban themes associated with landmark residences at the end of the 19th century. With balconies and rose-colored brick masonry with stone accents, the structure is reminiscent of the quality and character of Houston’s most prestigious residential neighborhoods. The building’s base includes six levels of parking for 790 vehicles, a generous lobby facing the Discovery Green, 27,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor retail and restaurant space, and an eighth level of resident amenities that include party rooms, a business center, a fully-equipped exercise facility and 35,000 square feet of outdoor space for the pool terrace, outdoor cooking and social activities.

About Ted Trout Architect & Associates, LTD

The formidable Ted Trout Architect & Associates, LTD is an architectural firm with over a century of combined experience in the design field. The firm has produced millions of dollars worth of multifamily housing and commercial properties, thanks to its commitment to design excellence and responsive, client-sensitive solutions. The firm is led by Cesar A. Corrales and John Cooper, whose involvement is guaranteed in each of the projects the firm takes on, from inception to completion.

Featured Projects

The firm specializes in the multifamily industry, creating the homes people want to live in. The firm’s dedicated professionals offer sound design strategies based on project type and market conditions, and its designs, whether for luxury or affordable housing, are creative and functional living spaces. One example of the firm’s work is The Meritage Apartments in Houston. With 240 units comprising the apartment complex, residents are sure to have abundant space for themselves and their families. The Meritage also features a dazzling swimming pool, enclosed by the entire structure.

About Meeks + Partners

For over a decade, Meeks + Partners has been cultivating a reputation for efficient and beautiful projects, land planning and density studies, and global master-planned mixed-use developments. Although the firm is particularly skilled in multifamily developments, it also specializes in student housing, independent senior housing, mixed-use, and land planning services.

Featured Projects

An example of the firm’s work in multifamily design is the Ascension on the Bayou. Located in the Memorial area of Houston, this luxury residence boasts mixed-use amenities such as fitness centers, conference and workspaces, outdoor lounges, and clubrooms. The Ascension is also pet-friendly, allowing residents to let their furry friends stay in the apartments for a minimal monthly fee.

About W Partnership

W Partnership is a Houston-based architectural firm with comprehensive knowledge of the multifamily market. The firm has worked with nationally-recognized developers for over three decades, solving complex design and site issues and problems with learned ease. To date, W Partnership has designed over 400,000 residential units throughout the country. Its diverse expertise includes the planning and design of multifamily housing, mixed-use, student housing, and senior living developments. Other project types in the firm’s portfolio include low-rise garden style, mid-rise podium, wrap concepts, and high-rise construction.

Featured Projects

One example of the firm’s work on a multifamily project is the Hanover Rice Village in Houston. Located in the neighborhood of Rice Village—which has, since 1930, been one of Houston’s premier shopping and dining destinations— the Hanover is a luxury apartment with easy access to the amenities offered by its vibrant location. W Partnership completed the five-story podium wood construction project and created one of the area’s most sought-after apartment complexes. The Hanover offers one, two, and three-bedroom units — perfect for small to large families. It also features a resort-style swimming pool, fitness and club rooms, outdoor dining, a 23,000-square-foot on-site retail space, and pedestrian access to Rice Village.

About Case & Associates General Contractors

Specializing in hospitality building and renovation, Case & Associates is a close-knit team of experienced hotel construction specialists. The team has worked with both major hotel chains and boutique hotels nationwide in its over three decades in the business, with a wide range of projects. Under the leadership of Principal Allen Case, who is hands-on in the pre-construction, design development and estimating phases, the firm has completed many projects that result in client satisfaction.

The firm’s projects in its homebase of Houston include the full remodel of the Embassy Suites Energy Corridor in 2021. Case gave business professionals coming through the city a warm welcome in the bright wood walls of the hotel’s lobby and public spaces, as well as a calming atmosphere in the gray and white motif of its 216 guest rooms. The remodel also covered the Oasis Restaurant & Bar, as well as the meeting rooms and ballrooms. Case was also involved in the $9-million-dollar transformation of the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Downtown into what is now the C. Baldwin Hotel, renovating its 354 guest rooms, as well as the renovation of the lobby and lounge areas of the Magnolia Hotel at Houston’s Historic District.

E.E. Reed Construction, L.P.

Second generation builder Mark Reed has sat as president of E.E. Reed Construction, L.P. since 2012. His father E.E. “Gene” Reed is the current CEO and also founded the company in 1977 after 17 years in the construction business. Following in his footsteps, Mark grew with experience in every facet of the trade, working as a laborer, carpenter and field engineer before formally joining the company in 1997 after earning his degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University. As true Texas natives, their practice is headquartered in Sugar Land, with four other offices across the U.S., and both of them are members of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. of Greater Houston.

Amongst their completed hospitality projects is the Embassy Suites Park 10, in West Houston, a 207,513 square foot, 15-story, 208-room full service hotel, which features a full service kitchen and restaurant, among other meeting spaces, and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel has a classic and elegant finish both on its exterior and inside. They have also worked on the trendier Home2Suites in the Energy Corridor, an 83,574 square foot, five-story structure housing 142 rooms, a breakfast area, fitness center, meeting rooms, and an outdoor pool. Its sister hotel is the firm’s current project: the Home2Suites Galleria is a 74,635 square foot, 112-room structure which will have a 48,693 square foot, 4-story, 112-car cast-in-place parking garage.

JE Dunn Construction

Operating out of 23 offices across the U.S., JE Dunn Construction has been a leader in the commercial construction industry since 1924. This family and employee-owned company is currently operated by the third generation of founder John Ernest Dunn’s family alongside President and CEO Gordon Lansford. Under their leadership, it has been ranked 22nd in Engineering News-Record’s 2019 Top 400 Contractors list.

Among their hospitality projects is The Westin at The Woodlands, a 220,000 square foot, 302-room, 4-star luxury hotel overlooking the Woodlands Waterway, which features 24,000 square feet of meeting space, a second floor infinity pool and lounge with direct access to the fountains at Waterway Square, a 150-seat restaurant, spa services, a WestinWORKOUT® Gear Lending Program fitness center, full service Starbucks, and even a private helicopter service. JE Dunn also built the Aloft Hotel by theGalleria, a project which involved the demolition of an existing parking structure, transforming the space into a 64,325-square-foot, five-story, 152-room hotel on top of a five-story parking garage. The first floor of the parking structure shares its space with the hotel’s main lobby area, back-of-house service areas, pool, bar, and workout area.

W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation

For over 100 years, W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation has not just built structures that have become part of Houston’s history as well as its skyline, but has also forged strong relationships across Texas and the Southwest through its commitment to the highest quality of work, safety and integrity. The Houstonian Hotel lies within a high-end luxury club in the Galleria district, and has become a favorite place for company meetings and small conventions because of its wide range of amenities amidst the 18-acre lush, wooded property. They also built The Lancaster Hotel, formerly The Auditorium Hotel, in 1926, an Italian renaissance-style 12-story, 93-room boutique hotel downtown, which was designated as a Houston Landmark in 1984.

Other hotels in their portfolio are the 401-foot, 30-story, 947-room Hyatt Regency, Houston’s tallest and first full atrium hotel, topped by a revolving restaurant, the 805,000 square foot, 399-room Four Seasons Hotel. AsHouston’s first AAA Diamond Hotel, it houses apartments for lease alongside standard hotel rooms and suites, has 18,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 4,800 square foot ballroom. Most notably, it houses the Ronald McDonald House, a 3-story, 50-bedroom facility serving as a home away from home for families with critically ill children undergoing treatment at Texas Medical Center.

About The Beck Group

Building and designing with class across the U.S. for over a century, The Beck Group has created, expanded and reimagined hotels, resorts and spas in the Houston, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Their portfolio includes the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver-certified Renaissance Dallas Hotel ballroom addition project, the Johnson/Burgee Architects Rosewood Crescent collaboration, and, most notably, the must-see Hyatt Regency Dallas and infamous Dallas-skyline Reunion Tower, originally built in 1978.

Founded in 1912 by Henry C. Beck, Sr., Henry “Peter” C. Beck III currently sits as chairman of the company, and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) Fred Perpall is currently the helm as CEO. Reflecting the company’s century of accomplishments, Beck has been hailed among Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal’s U.S. Best Managed Companies for their excellence in strategy, execution, culture and financials.

One of the firm’s most notable accomplishments to date is the Le Meridien Houston, a 215,000 square foot transformation of the historic mid-century Melrose Building office space built in 1952. Today, it stands proudly as Houston’s oldest modern skyscraper. The hotel still references the ‘50s aesthetics, featuring contemporary lighting and finishes across its 21 stories, with 225 guest rooms, new restaurant and bar concepts, conference rooms, and meeting spaces. The project was designed by AIA and LEED Accredited Professional Principal Architect Bryan Jones and led by LEED AP Director of Preconstruction Carter Vecera of Beck’s Austin office.

About Arch-Con Corporation

A week before Arch-Con corporation’s Courtyard Marriott project could open in 2017, Hurricane Havey hit, and so the project quickly opened up instead to host first responders. Since then, Arch-Con Corporation has put this same dynamism into building in a wide variety of styles for diverse markets, whether young, on-the-go business travelers or large corporations that need ample space for conferences.

The rest of the firm’s portfolio displays several award-winning historic restoration projects involving the adaptive reuse of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places into up-to-date hospitality structures. One of these is the 110-year-old Jesse Jones’ Gulf Oil building, a 1960s mid-century modern structure, which has been transformed into the AC Hotel in Downtown Houston, with 195 guest rooms, a large workout room, a kitchen, restaurant, and the Zoe Ballroom, formerly the Zoe Theater. The Zoe Ballroom retains the classic barrel vaulted ceiling of the original structure, and can presently accommodate 350 people. Another project to note is the Aloft Houston Downtown, which was the former headquarters of Stowers Furniture, built in 1913. It now houses 173 rooms over its 119,981 square feet, featuring a 12,000 square foot terrace with rooftop pool. Today, Arch-Con is building the dual brand 187,246 square foot, 10-story, 296-guest-room Hilton Garden Inn/Home2 Suites within Texas Medical Center.

About DPR Construction

Ranking among the top 50 general contractors in the country since 1997, DPR Construction has been building staple hotels alongside the best architects nationwide for 30 years. After Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston in 2017, DPR was entrusted to rebuild the Omni Houston Hotel in Galleria. DPR handled the renovation of 40,000 square feet of its common spaces, including three ballrooms, two boardrooms, 26 reception and conference rooms, as well as Black Swan Restaurant & Night Club, Mokara Spa & Salon, and the Common Color retail area. The same sense of luxurious elegance runs through each space for its function, whether catering to large formal gatherings, relaxed casual lounging, or high-level corporate meetings. Floodwater mitigation measures were also implemented throughout the site.

After this successful repair, a similar restoration of its sister hotel in Westside was also awarded to DPR, all of which was done while it remained at full capacity, revamping 50,000 square feet of the atrium lobby, including the reception and sitting area, as well as several dining areas, and the new grab-and-go Over the Counter market. The result was a good blending of the different spaces, which, while unified in their overall palette of earthy tones, displayed a pleasant variety in atmosphere, mimicking a small community — luxurious, but still like a home away from home. DPR Houston has also been awarded the Baytown Hotel and Conroe Hotel and Convention Center projects.

About Hoar Construction

Hoar Construction dominates the Texan construction industry with over 80 years of diverse and multi-awarded general contracting practice. Engineering News-Record constantly ranks the firm on its “best of the best contractors” annual lists, especially for its work in the mixed-use sector. The company also takes on high-value projects for other markets, including commercial, government, cultural, recreation, education, healthcare, hospitality, residential, and industrial. The firm operates out of six offices in nearby regions. Its projects can be found in many large metropolitans, including Houston. In recent years, the company partnered with Munoz+Albin and Kirksey Architecture to build the CityCentre Four, a 123,000-square-foot mixed-use structure that was designed to pass US Green Building Council’s LEED-Silver certification for green design, sustainability, and energy-efficiency. Located on a site-congested site, one of the challenges of the project was to fit the building into the property that is just five feet away from an access road and a few feet from nearby establishments. The building accommodates offices, restaurants, and retail spaces.

About Burton Construction

From its Houston and Austin offices, Burton Construction delivers modern spaces for the healthcare, corporate, industrial, commercial, multifamily, and hospitality sectors. Established over 15 years ago, the firm easily tops Houston’s list of the most in-demand building companies today. Many of its high-value projects have been featured in industry publications, including the Houston Chronicle, Forbes Magazine, Houston Business Journal, and Chron. The firm works with the largest developers in the field and often works with renowned architectural companies to build landmarks and urban high-rises across the region. In recent years the firm partnered with global design and architectural firm Gensler to complete the CityCenter. The project involved the full construction of the 37-acre mixed-use development found in Houston. The building is home to upscale commercial and entertainment spaces, a fitness facility, as well as condominium units, lofts, apartments, and hotel accommodations. It also accommodates state-of-the-art workspaces designed to support a highly collaborative work environment. Included in the project is a four-level parking space for guests and tenants.

About Joeris General Contractors

Since Joeris General Contractors launched its services to the Texan industrial, commercial, education, healthcare, religious, civic, and corporate markets in 1967, it has delivered high-value and notable projects throughout the region. In 2020, for instance, one of its builds won the ASA Project of the Year award, under the $5M-$10M category. Another project earned the same organization’s Platinum Award, this time for the $20M-$50M category. Publications such as ENR and San Antonio Business Journal also featured and recognized many of the firm’s mixed-use projects. For one of its highly commended development works, for instance, the firm built a 75,000-square-foot mixed-use facility in San Antonio. The Pearl Lab is a three-story shell building that houses a ground-level retail space. Included in the project scope was a new road to provide easy access to the new commercial space. Housing the building is the office of the project owner and Pearl District developer, Silver Ventures. Adelante Mexican food restaurant and San Antonio Area Foundation are also two of its high-value tenants.

About Rogers-O’Brien Construction

Rogers-O’Brien Construction is a general contracting company that has served a wide spectrum of markets throughout Texas since 1969. From its four locations in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, it provides preconstruction, building, and construction management services to the region’s largest brands and organizations. Its diverse client list includes Neiman Marcus, Pizza Hut, WeWork, Cambridge Holdings, and Texas Oncology Cancer Center. The firm’s impressive portfolio caught the attention of the industry. In 2019, for instance, ENR chose the firm among its Regional Texas and Louisiana Top Contractors. Architect Magazine, Houston Chronicle, and Houston Business Journal featured many of its works. One of the firm’s most recent projects is the Hilltop Plaza, located in Texas’s University Park. The 347,000-square-foot mixed-use facility was meant to replace an existing office building that sat on the property for years. The new structure now houses luxury retail spaces, offices, and restaurants. Underground parking that can accommodate 600 cars has been provided for the building’s tenants and customers. Architecture and planning firm, Omniplan Inc. designed the modern and pedestrian-friendly commercial project.

About Arch-Con Corporation

Specializing in commercial construction, Arch-Con Corporation is a general contractor that has produced an award-winning portfolio of work that has been commended for its structural and architectural feats. It’s not surprising that the company is a constant title-holder for sought-after industry awards, including the 2020 RED News General Contractor of the Year. It also consistently ranks among the best of ENR’s Top 400 Contractors list from 2016 through 2020. The firm’s award-winning reputation can be attributed to the quality, value, and complexity of its construction projects. One of the firm’s biggest builds for the luxury commercial sector that exemplifies these qualities is Buffalo Heights. Buffalo Heights is located at the heart of downtown Houston. The 742,000-square-foot high-end mixed-use facility redefines urban living through its resort-style and heavily landscaped green spaces for its multifamily tenants that occupy its several floors. A multi-tier pool, several outdoor spaces for socializing, turf areas, and seating areas, are just a few of the outdoor amenities that it provides. Indoor amenities include conference rooms, a clubhouse, indoor seating, and bicycle storage. The building also accommodates office spaces, commercial spaces for retail and groceries, and a parking garage.

About VCC

VCC operates from its nine locations throughout the United States. This impressive geographic scope allows them to serve a wide spectrum of industries, especially the commercial market sector. As a modern company, the firm makes use of the latest in engineering and construction technologies to enhance collaboration among clients, architects, and other project partners. This approach to building is one of the factors that helped it secure its place on the ENR Top 400 Contractors list. The Houston Business Journal and Finance and Commerce magazine regularly highlight the firm’s 30 years of practice. For its mixed-use and commercial works, the firm often partners with the biggest architectural firms in the world. In recent years, it worked with international firm Gensler to complete the construction of the River Oaks District for the client, real estate development firm OliverMcMillan. The project was designed to mirror the elegant and luxurious experience of Beverly Hills’s Rodeo Drive. The building, located in Houston, is built to accommodate high-end commercial spaces for luxury brands and boutique retail stores. Cafes and restaurants complete the complex’s shop-and-dine experience. The building’s multifamily components are housed in its four new towers. Parts of these structures were also allotted to several hotel and office spaces.

About Harvey | Harvey-Cleary Builders

A long list of publications highlights Harvey | Harvey-Cleary Builders’s role in shaping the region’s metropolitan landscapes. Articles from the ENR, ArchDaily, Curbed Austin, Tri-City Herald, and Inhabitat featured many of its projects that represent the company’s devotion to sustainability, technological innovation, and quality construction. The firm was established in 1957 and since then it has established its reputation as a leading commercial and mixed-use development builder in the region. It has four locations in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Washington DC. In recent years, its Houston office completed the CityPlace 2. Measuring 291,000 square feet, the mixed-use building is one of Spring’s most recognizable landmarks. The ten-story facility is composed mainly of office spaces and retail units on the first floor. The firm also built its multi-level, pre-cast parking garage for clients and tenants. Designed by Gensler, the cast-in-place structure is a modern architectural masterpiece that features a storefront, curtain wall, and pre-cast, custom metal panels on its exterior.

About 3D Green Planet Architects

3D Green Planet Architects is an award-winning 3D residential architecture firm committed to creating sustainable 3D house and townhouse designs. The firm is based in Houston, and serves the areas of Houston and East Texas. What sets 3D Green’s residential services apart from the rest is that all of its projects are composed in 3D virtual environments. The firm not only communicates the design using two dimensional plans and elevations, but it also uses 3D imagery, perspectives, virtual walk-throughs and realistic pictures. Under the leadership of the firm’s principal, R. Michael Lee, 3D Green Planet Architects creates sustainable green environments utilizing virtual modeling for commercial projects, feasibility studies, institutional projects, school, and church projects.

About Corgan

Nothing shapes the globally-located, decades-old firm’s philosophy on sustainability more than the belief that everyone has a fundamental responsibility to be good stewards of the world’s natural resources. Corgan seeks to move beyond the approach of simply “using less,” to instead creating buildings that also “do more.” With a deep understanding of the role that the built environment plays in shaping both societies and the physical world, Corgan believes that it can profoundly strengthen communities by creating more resilient and equitable designs. The multi award-winning firm has a flourishing sustainable design practice that is responsible for over 30 million square feet of projects, covering approximately $10.2 billion in construction costs. Its portfolio includes over 100 third party verified projects, and its employment covers 100 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professionals within the firm. The firm is committed to implementing a thoughtful and integrated approach to all its designs, one that balances both the built and natural environment. In 2018, as dedication to this approach, Corgan joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment, which prioritizes energy performance and working toward carbon-neutral buildings.

About English + Associates

English + Associates Architects is a full-service architectural and interior design firm specializing in high-performance, green-design solutions. It is a company of professionals driven to exceed the expectations of its clients, believing that optimal design solutions evolve from fully understanding what drives success in its clients’ organizations. English + Associates is committed to being good stewards of the environment and furthering the advancement of the design profession. Sustainability is a commitment that is woven into all of the services the firm provides. For nearly a decade, 85% of its employees have been LEED Accredited Professionals, and in 2010, the firm became a 2030 Carbon Reduction Challenge participant. In addition to striving to reduce the carbon footprints of the buildings it designs, the firm tracks and submits its progress to the AIA 2030 Commitment database. English + Associates believes that the best design decisions are beautiful, meet clients’ needs, and minimize negative impacts on the environment and human health. For the firm, design affects the individual and the community alike.

About Environment Associates

Back in 1975, when few people cared about working in harmony with the environment and micro-climates, LaVerne Williams, principal of Environment Associates, dared to open an ecologically-oriented architectural practice. As a result of this bold and thoughtful move, LaVerne (the “Grandfather of Green Building”) is one of the nation’s top green building professionals and a Texas pioneer of energy-efficient green home design. After starting his company, LaVerne became an outspoken, positive educator about the need for sustainable, energy-saving buildings and lifestyles. Through his willingness to teach and mentor others, his practice and his influence grew. Under his leadership, Environment Associates (EA) has been continuing its commitment to lowering clients’ Living Cost by creating superior living environments for those seeking quality of life at home. The firm’s homes demonstrate the dramatic economic, environmental, and social benefits derived from striving to build sustainably. EAs’ signature work, eaDesign for Life™, enhances livability and comfort in normal times and assures survivability in relative comfort during times of extreme weather and power outages. EA’s unique holistic approach to planning & design significantly lowers its clients’ Living Cost while delivering year-round enjoyment.

About Gensler

Gensler’s purpose, “to Create a Better World Through the Power of Design” has led it to be a global architectural firm. It practices in 26 locations and has a special focus on client relationships, leadership and talent diversity. Gensler is headed by Diane Hoskins and Andy Cohen, both prestigious fellows of the AIA. For her innovative leadership, Diane, along with Co-CEO Andy Cohen, ranks on Business Insider’s elite “Creators” list, a compilation of the world’s 100 top creative visionaries. As hands-on leaders, Diane and Andy oversee Gensler’s global platform and its day-to-day operations. In their roles, Diane and Andy serve as key contributors to what is acknowledged, by its peers, as the most admired and largest architecture firm in the world, pioneering project types and design innovation strategies for the next century and acknowledged by Fast Company as one of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies.

About HOK

HOK is a design, architecture, engineering and planning firm with 23 offices on three continents. The firm is led by Bill Hellmuth, a fellow of the AIA, and a LEED Accredited Professional. Bill serves as the Chairman and CEO of HOK, as well as the design principal for the Washington, D.C. office. He is known for his creative design approach, innovative problem-solving and exceptional client service. Bill joined HOK’s St. Louis studio in 1991 and was appointed to lead the firm’s office in Washington, D.C. in 1993. In 2005, he was appointed firm-wide president after more than a decade as design principal, and in 2016 he became CEO and then chairman in 2017. Under Bill’s leadership, HOK has been recognized by the Engineering News-Record as the #1 Green Building A/E firm, and in 2019, was recognized with the distinction as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Architecture Firms.”

About Jay Baker Architects

Jay Baker Architects was founded in 1991 and has since produced recognized work at a local and national level. Jay Baker, head of the company, became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in 2002. Jay and his team believe that to make architecture with quality, they must look beyond the project and see the context in which the project will be completed. This philosophy guides the firm’s approach to collaboration, as Jay facilitates the collaborative process with the talented and enthusiastic people in his office, and more importantly, with the client. As collaboration leads to advocacy, his clients share authorship of something that is readily familiar to them, but that they hadn’t seen before. This unique approach has led the firm to garner 33 local and regional design awards since its inception in 1991.

About Kirksey Architecture

Nothing summarizes Kirksey Architecture better than its motto, “Healthy buildings, healthy people, healthy planet.” The firm was founded in 1971, when a young architectural intern named John Kirksey, just one year out of college, with a single project and an entrepreneurial spirit, set out to create the firm now known as Kirksey Architecture — a leader in the architectural field in Texas. As the only Houston-based firm to be recognized by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as a LEED Proven Provider, Kirksey has the depth of experience to deliver timely LEED certifications that optimize value while keeping cost premiums low. The firm’s Proven Provider status allows for abbreviated review periods and an overall streamlined LEED certification process. Its Sustainability Team-–an in-house group of sustainability specialists-–are responsible for 100+ LEED certified projects spanning five rating systems and totaling more than 35 million square feet. At Kirksey, the firm greatly values each of its members, its clients, community, and the earth. As architects, designers, and planners, the team at Kirksey believes it is their responsibility to design high-performing, healthy buildings that positively impact the people, environment, and communities they serve. Kirksey does this by creating facilities that are resource-efficient, site and community enhancing, and that provide a healthy and enjoyable experience for the people within them.

About Studio RED Architects

The philosophy of Studio RED Architects is fueled by the desire to provide quality architecture, focusing on design excellence, superior project management and service. Specializing in unique designs within a client’s budget, Studio RED Architects provides hands-on principal involvement no matter how big or small the project. The firm is led by Pete Ed Garrett, FAIA, the founding partner of Studio RED Architects. Pete has over 30 years of award-winning architecture and design experience. His projects have been recognized from a local to an international level, and he has many awards for his work. Under Pete’s leadership, Studio RED takes the “green” process beyond the LEED accounting system and creates a new outlook of long lasting, responsible design choices. Studio RED is experienced in sustainability rating systems including LEED for Neighborhood Development, LEED for New Construction (and Major Retrofits), and LEED for Existing Building Operation & Maintenance.