Great Southwest Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Southwest Building |
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(2008)
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 1314 Texas Avenue Houston, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | 29°45′30″N 95°22′06″W / 29.7584396°N 95.3682630°W |
| Completed | 1926 |
| Opening | 1927 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 291 ft (89 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 22 |
| Floor area | 188,240 sq ft (17,490 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Alfred C. Bossom, Maurice J. Sullivan, and Briscoe & Dixon |
| Developer | Joseph S. Cullinan founder of The Texas Company |
The Great Southwest Building is a tall building, also known as a skyscraper. It stands at 1314 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston, Texas, in the United States. Before it was called the Great Southwest Building, it was known as the Petroleum Building.
The Building's Story
The Great Southwest Building has an interesting past. A man named Joseph S. Cullinan first asked for it to be built. He was the founder of a big oil company called The Texas Company. He wanted a place for his growing oil and gas business offices.
A New York architect named Alfred Bossom designed the building. It has a special style called Art Deco. This style often uses bold shapes and decorations. The building also has unusual touches inspired by the Mayan people. You can see these in the carvings and the way the upper floors are stepped back. This design makes it look a bit like an ancient Mayan pyramid.
Fifty years later, another building in Houston, Heritage Plaza, was built with a similar Mayan-inspired design.
Who Used the Building?
After Texaco moved to bigger offices, the Great Southwest Building still served many companies. Smaller oil and gas businesses used the upper floors. Shops and stores were located on the ground floor.
In 2015, a company from Dallas bought the building. They planned to make big changes. Their idea was to turn the building into 150 fancy apartment homes. This project received special help from the city. It got a tax credit from the Houston Downtown Living Initiative. This program helps encourage new homes to be built in the city center.
Today, the building is home to the Cambria Hotel Downtown Convention Center.
See also
In Spanish: Great Southwest Building para niños
