Houston Endowment Headquarters

The stark white exterior stands in direct contrast to the warm wood ceilings in this new headquarters for Houston Endowment, a private foundation that supports the city’s arts, parks, and public schools. Originally planned as a cast concrete structure, the project team chose a hybrid design that includes exposed CLT floor and roof systems. The team says the use of mass timber helped reduce costs while offering a lighter weight structure that resolved problematic soil conditions. An extensive solar array sits on a semi-freestanding canopy that shelters the entire structure, meeting 90% of the building’s annual energy demands. The building also uses a unique closed-loop geothermal HVAC system with interior fans placed throughout the building, reducing the need for air conditioning. Formerly located in dark offices in a downtown high-rise, the new headquarters gives the Houston Endowment a facility that meets its ambitious carbon reduction objectives and 2030 Net Zero goals. 


Watch a short one-minute video of this project, which was selected as a 2023 Wood Design Awards winner. View the full award gallery here.