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photo of Olson Kundig Shortlisted in Houston Endowment Headquarters Design Competition

Olson Kundig Shortlisted in Houston Endowment Headquarters Design Competition

2019/08/06

Olson Kundig with Surfacedesign has been selected as one of four shortlisted teams in the Houston Endowment headquarters international design competition, organized by Malcolm Reading Consultants. The first stage of this two-stage competition attracted 354 firms comprising 121 teams from around the world. Olson Kundig’s team is led by Design Principals Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA and Kirsten Ring Murray, FAIA.

Houston Endowment (HE) is one of the largest private foundations in the State of Texas. In 2018, HE provided $75 million in funding for education, healthcare, immigration, the arts and the environment to more than 200 organizations across the greater Houston area. The new headquarters building will allow the foundation to create a dedicated and accessible central office, increasing its engagement with the local community.

Additional shortlisted teams include Deborah Berke Partners with DAVID RUBIN Land Collective and Atelier Ten; Kevin Daly Architects with TLS Landscape Architecture, Productora and Transsolar; and Schaum/Shieh Architects with HKS and Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture. In the second stage of the competition, teams will assemble a multidisciplinary project team and develop design concepts for the new 40,000 square foot headquarters building. Teams will be reviewed and interviewed by a selection committee, with final selection and winner announcement anticipated in November 2019.

For more information, please visit the Houston Endowment design competition website at https://competitions.malcolmreading.com/houstonendowment.

It is an honor to be included on the shortlist for this important new project. We are incredibly enthusiastic about Houston Endowment’s aspirations and the possibilities for their new headquarters to build connections with neighboring Spotts Park, and with the larger Houston community. Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
As a visible front door for the foundation, this project represents Houston Endowment’s ongoing commitment to serving the city of Houston. The new headquarters will be a catalyst for community, a physical place that embodies HE’s core values of engagement and equal access. Kirsten Ring Murray, FAIA
The Houston Endowment headquarters is uniquely positioned to foster a re‑envisioning of Spotts Park as a regional destination and neighborhood centerpiece. We are excited to continue exploring meaningful and intuitive connections between the foundation and park that support and revitalize this important community asset. Roderick Wyllie, Managing Principal, Surfacedesign