Roy G. Cullen Building, Art Deco structure at University of Houston, Texas.

The Roy G. Cullen Building is an Art Deco structure at the University of Houston that displays geometric forms and ornamental details across its facade. It has functioned as an academic hub since completion, housing classrooms, offices, and departmental spaces designed for educational use.

Construction began in 1938 following a major donation from Hugh Roy Cullen and his wife Lillie to establish the university's first permanent structure. This project transformed the institution from temporary facilities to a stable, purpose-built campus.

The building is dedicated to Roy Gustav Cullen, the Cullens' only son, who died in an oil field accident two years before construction. Hugh Roy Cullen later chaired the Board of Regents and, by his death in 1957, had given the University of Houston over $11 million.

The Roy G. Cullen Building stands on the University of Houston campus, whose main entrance faces Cullen Boulevard south of downtown Houston. It is a working academic building, so visitors should keep to public areas and avoid classrooms during class hours. The Art Deco facade is easiest to examine from the outside walkways in daylight.

This building made history as the first university building in the United States to install a complete air conditioning system. This advanced feature set it apart as a symbol of modern comfort when such technology was still rare.