The annual Landmark awards program, sponsored by the Houston Business Journal, honors outstanding commercial and residential real estate developments that are positive focal points in the Houston landscape and skyline.  Award winners were chosen by a panel of judges consisting of community leaders from various facets of Houston's real estate, city management, and economic development disciplines. 
InterContinental Houston General Manager Jack Miller accepted the award at a private dinner attended by the city's leading developers, architects, builders, brokers and real estate entrepreneurs.

"On behalf of Six Continents Hotels, we're proud to accept this award," said Miller.  "We wish to thank the Uptown Houston Association for the nomination and more importantly, for welcoming us to the neighborhood.  Our goal was to become 'good neighbors.' We designed a hotel that complements the image of the Uptown Houston area while positioning the hotel to contribute to the economic development of the city and strengthen the city's place in the international marketplace. We've also ensured that our hotel team is personally involved in the community. This award is evidence that we've achieved our goal of being 'good neighbors.'"

The InterContinental Houston opened in April of 2002. Interior Designer Tim Zebrowski teamed up with Gensler Architects to transform the site into a modern and gracious Inter-Continental Hotel.  Part of Gensler's challenge was designing an all-new structure and blending it with an updated, existing building.  The architects answered the challenge with a design that reflects the hotel's location in Uptown Houston and guest expectations of the brand.  Modern elements such as polished steel, granite and chrome helped accomplish this. 

Gensler's team adopted a simple, elegant style for the project, designing inviting curves along the front of the hotel.  Light blue glass windows along the front of the hotel offer extensive views of the spacious lobby and Lobby Lounge inside.
A palm-tree-lined entrance, granite water fountains, classical music and extensive landscaping create a sense of arrival for hotel guests.  This combination of visual and acoustical effects are instrumental in blocking traffic sounds and creating an urban retreat to welcome guests.

Upon entering the hotel, guests experience a living-room-style lobby lounge with granite floors, vaulted ceilings and wood panels.  The interior was designed to reflect the "modern Houstonian" with color schemes of the warm earth tones of the Texas landscape with textures of wood, leather and chenille. The modern element of stainless steel was also added. 

Partners on the project included: Developer: Six Continents Hotels; Project Manager: Novak & Co, Architect: Gensler; Interior Design: Zebrowski Design Group; Lighting Design: Bos Lighting Design; Water features: Greenscape; Structural engineer: Haynes Whaley Associates; MEP engineer: L.A. Naman & Associates; Civil engineer: Walter P. Moore and Associates; Landscape Architect: SLA Studio Land; General Contractor: Centex - Dallas; Interior Contractor: Digney York Associates - Virginia; and Purchasing Agent: Ramsey Purchasing. 

The InterContinental Houston is located at 2222 West Loop South, just one block from the Galleria.