Great Southwest Building

The Great Southwest Building, located at 1314 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston, Texas, is a historic skyscraper originally built in 1927 as the Petroleum Building for The Texas Company. It is now home to the Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. Designed by architect Alfred Bossom, the building features a unique blend of Art Deco and Mayan architectural styles, inspired by the pyramids of Tikal. Historically, it served as a hub for oil and gas companies and hosted the exclusive Tejas Club, which focused on literary and artistic pursuits. The building's innovative design included the first above-ground parking garage in a skyscraper, making it a significant architectural landmark in Houston.