News Release
HOUSTON — Design Workshop has been named a finalist with a 2026 Houston Business Journal Landmark Award for its transformative renewal of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, one of Houston’s most iconic hospitality destinations. The Landmark Awards recognize the region’s most impactful commercial real estate projects, celebrating developments that shape the city’s skyline and strengthen its communities. This year, HBJ recognized 43 projects and 10 industry leaders across categories including industrial, office, multifamily, hospitality, and community impact.
“We are incredibly grateful to see The Houstonian recognized as a model for resilient, sustainable hospitality design,” said Alex Ramirez, Principal at Design Workshop. “This project demonstrates how thoughtful, light‑touch interventions can renew a beloved landmark while strengthening its environmental performance and long‑term value.”
Design Workshop was a finalist for their work in the Resilience & Sustainability category for its comprehensive redesign of the 27‑acre Houstonian campus. Serving as lead site planner and landscape architect, the firm delivered a series of high‑impact improvements that elevate guest experience, enhance circulation and accessibility, and strengthen the property’s ecological performance all while preserving the wooded character that defines The Houstonian.
Key enhancements include the separation of hotel and club circulation to resolve long‑standing traffic conflicts, the conversion of an underused parking lot into eight high‑demand pickleball courts, a new 60‑seat outdoor dining terrace, and a cohesive, ecology‑informed planting palette inspired by the surrounding bayou and woodland landscape. These interventions create a seamless, nature‑forward experience that honors The Houstonian’s legacy while preparing it for future growth.
Completed in Spring 2025, the renewal reflects a multi‑year collaboration between Design Workshop, Redstone Group, Forney Construction, and a team of Houston‑based engineers and consultants.
To review the full list of awardees click here.
Founded in 1969, Design Workshop is an internationally renowned design firm specializing in landscape architecture, urban planning, and strategic services with seven studios in the U.S. and projects spanning the globe. Our work focuses on the intersection of art, community, environment, and economics to increase social equity and create places of meaning and resonance. For additional information follow us at @designworkshop on LinkedIn and Instagram.