Morris Breaks New Ground In Hospitality Design

04/13/2014 | Morris Architects

Morris Architects is pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new landmark Marriott Marquis Houston, in downtown Houston on April 11th at 11 am. Teamed with RIDA Development, Morris’ iconic design was selected by Houston First Corporation to bring this transformative project to life. When the Hotel opens in 2016, the City of Houston will have the distinction of being only the sixth city in the nation to carry the Marriott Marquis flag, which is reserved for large convention hotels of iconic design. The groundbreaking culminates a 20-month design effort led by Morris and involving more than 20 professional service firms. Members of the Morris team will be celebrating at the groundbreaking along with the Owner, the Houston First team, public officials and many others involved in making the project a reality.

Morris Architects is leading a top-tier team of design professionals in the development of this project. “Over the last 20 months, our team has formed an exceptional working relationship and partnership with the RIDA Development team,” said Doug Childers, Principal in Charge of the Project for Morris. “The quality of this collaboration will be reflected in the building itself. RIDA Development brings unparalleled expertise in creating an extraordinary guest experience and we are honored to be their partners on this project,” continues Childers.

The Project will have a big impact on Houston’s Convention business by adding 1,000 rooms and 100,000 SF of meeting space, connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center. The hotel will also play a major role in the transformation of the entertainment district that surrounds the George R. Brown Convention Center and Discovery Green. The ground floor of the hotel will include multiple restaurants and a world-class sports bar fronting Discovery Green and the surrounding streets. The design features a sleek 29-story glass tower, configured to maximize city views. Guests will have views of Discovery Green, Minute Maid Park, and Downtown Houston. “The hotel design speaks to Houston as a contemporary city and will be a new Houston Landmark,” said Douglas Oliver, Director of Design at Morris. The hotel’s amenity deck will feature the ‘Texas Sky River’, a lazy river in the shape of the State of Texas. Guests will float from Houston to El Paso to the Panhandle, along the Red River and back home to Houston. The ‘Texas Sky River’ is expected to become an exciting new destination for visitors and Houstonians alike.

About Morris
With 76 years of design expertise, Morris is an award-winning full-service practice with locations in Houston, Orlando, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Hong Kong. Morris recently joined forces with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. The combined firms provide architecture, interior design, planning, engineering, program management, and construction management services in 18 cities in the US, Asia and Latin America. This project builds on the firm’s strengths in urban design and hospitality, and its 76-year history designing many of Houston’s best known landmarks. Morris is widely known for innovative design, technical expertise and client service. World Architecture and Hotel Business Magazine have rated the Firm as a top, hospitality design firm. “Our reputation is based on our experience, our commitment to our Clients’ vision, and our creative problem-solving,” said Chris Hudson, President of Morris.  Additional information about Morris can be found at http://www.morris-hz.com.