Great Southwest Building, Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Houston, United States.
The Great Southwest Building stands 292 feet tall with 22 floors, featuring a steel frame structure with concrete slabs and non-load bearing masonry walls that allow for larger windows and flexible interior layouts.
Originally constructed between 1926 and 1927 as the Petroleum Building, it was designed by Alfred Bossom and developed by oil industry figure Joseph S. Cullinan during Houston's economic boom period.
The building exemplifies Art Deco architectural style with limestone base, brown brick walls, Mayan relief figures, and glazed terracotta ornaments that reflect the movement's fascination with ancient civilizations and geometric patterns.
Currently operating as the Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center, the building offers 226 guest rooms, meeting spaces, and ballrooms on the 20th and 21st floors for business events and conventions.
The building underwent two major restorations in 1972 and 2019, and was officially declared a national landmark on September 21, 2017, recognizing its significant contribution to American architecture and urban development.
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