The Petroleum Building, built in 1927, has been transformed into a Cambria hotel.
HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – A 92-year-old building in downtown tower has been redeveloped as the 226-room Cambria Hotel Downtown Houston.
The hotel, scheduled to open August 1, will be located in one of Houston’s oldest high-rise office buildings at 1314 Texas Avenue.
Joseph S. Cullinan, founder of the Texas Company, an early-day oil firm that became Texaco, developed the building in 1927. Originally, it was envisioned as a multi-tenant office tower to be occupied a variety of oil companies in what was then a fledgling energy industry. Thus, the tower was called The Petroleum Building.
Rising over 20 stories high, the tower was designed by architects Alfred C. Blossom of New York and Maurice Sullivan in what has been characterized as an Art Deco exotic design motif. In recent years, it was called the Great Southwest Building.
“It was the right location and we are honored to uphold the history and grandeur of the building in our own way,” said Kristie Byrd, regional vice president of sales at Concord Hospitality.
Dallas-based developer Todd Interests redeveloped the building, located on a block bounded by Texas Avenue, Capitol, Caroline and Austin streets, about two blocks from Minute Maid Park where the Houston Astros play.
Guests will enter on the ground level and access the lobby from either the preserved elevator cabs which feature original, ornate Mayan designs on the doors, or the modern staircase. The open floor plan of the second floor offers views of the front desk, the hotel market, the bar and The Rig restaurant, which will serve locally-sourced bistro fare. Concord Hospitality worked with Todd Interests to create a modern and sleek feel with cool gray tones and upscale fixtures.
The hotel will feature a state-of-the-art fitness center, ballroom and multi-function meeting spaces situated on the twentieth floor with downtown views. Cambria Hotelis known for offering a curated travel experience in sophisticated,boutique accommodations withtech-minded amenities. Each room is equipped with a Bluetooth enabled bathroom mirror that allowsguests tostream their own content, along with full length mirrors and smart TVs.
“We are excited to offer a simple yet sophisticated experience to our guests,” said Byrd. “Our brand is relatively new to this area of the country and we look forward to the reactions as people discover all that we offer.”
