Medical Towers, Houston
historic place
In Houston, Texas, within Harris County, stands the Medical Towers. Completed in 1957, this historic place was designed by the Houston firm Golemon & Rolfe, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of New York as consulting architects. Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning Gordon Bunshaft was a key figure in its design. The Medical Towers introduced the International Style of architecture to Houston, marking a shift from more traditional designs. It was a modified version of SOM's groundbreaking 1952 Lever House in New York City. The 18-story structure, composed of a 14-story tower on a four-story base, was built to meet the growing demand for office and retail services in the expanding Texas Medical Center after World War II. Notably, its design incorporated a parking garage into its base, adapting the Lever House concept for local needs. The building received a Progressive Architecture design award in 1954. It is recognized as a historic landmark by the City of Houston, the Texas Historic Commission, and the National Park Service. Today, the Medical Towers has been redeveloped into a hotel, preserving its significant architectural legacy within the Texas Medical Center.