2018-2020
46,000 SQFT
Houston, TX
Gensler’s Houston office ushers in a new era that better reflects the cutting-edge design being delivered to an ever more diverse set of clients. Relocating to 2 Houston Center provided a blank canvas and lent a fresh perspective that delivers not just a new office, but an immersive experience for clients, staff, and visitors. The design of the office is a real representation of Gensler Houston — showcasing the full spectrum of project types, practice areas, and clients they serve.
Bold, structural columns and cross-bracing beams from the base building are balanced with a palette of richly textured, gradating blacks and whites. Transplanted like a repotted plant, the office layout takes full advantage of an irregular building floorplate and split core, overcoming challenges to blossom in new ways. The space is visceral and tactile, celebrating the craft of design intuitively and organically.
Most excitingly, the new office is a true design lab. The Library, Maker Space, and VR Room are all on full display by the reception to make visible our identity as innovators and change-makers. Highlighting our craft and the materiality of our ideas and impact, this office is a true expression of our engagement with our community and partners at the cutting edge of design.
2018-2020
10,000 SQFT + Digital Art Installation
Houston, TX
1100 Louisiana provides a dynamic digital experience unmatched by any other building in downtown Houston. To achieve this ambitious goal, the digital wall is designed to continuously generate original content computationally via a content engine, developing hundreds and hundreds of iterations based on four immersive concepts: Beauty in Data, Change of State, Imagination Room, and Living Wall. All four concepts draw thematically from Houston’s history, its people and the region’s cultural patrimony. Inspired by infinite possibilities, 1100’s content engine generates these iterations, some distinctive, some far more subtle, keeping a visual interest and sustaining engagement among the building’s daily visitors. Beauty in Data delves deep in data visualizations that paints the story of Houston’s history and future as an undulating, colorful ribbon. Change of State depicts the seamless yet unexpected progression of crystalline substances from one state of matter to another, reflecting the continual evolution of Houston. Imagination Room fuses elemental spheres, travelling through a space-age reinterpretation of the architectural forms of 1100 Louisiana, metamorphosing as they react to the surroundings in mind-bending ways. Living Wall captures the energy of life, showcasing regional plants in serene, naturalistic conditions amid a variety of creative plantings.
The four core concepts are complemented by a bevy of partner-generated content, providing a window into Houston’s thriving art scene. The digital installation displays content sourced directly from some of the city’s most celebrated visual and performing arts institutions alike. Animations and stills courtesy of NASA depict significant milestones in space exploration, serving as a reminder of the city’s instrumental role in furthering aerospace innovation. The installation also showcases digital art and curates content directly from the surrounding community, thereby giving local arts organizations a powerful platform through which to grow awareness among a large, diverse and culturally connected audience.
Early Beauty And Data Concepts
