STG Design Reveals O27, a Sinuous Skyscraper for Houston's River Oaks

Texas architecture studio STG Design has released renderings of O27, a 32-storey office skyscraper planned for Houston's River Oaks area. The building is expected to be completed in 2028.

The tower will carry flexible office floors, luxury amenities and a rooftop terrace set on a nine-storey base. A parking garage occupies the podium. From there, the tower rises in an undulating form.

Renders show two curving glass facades folded around either side of the building. They divide at the middle, where a spine of terraces travels up the tower's length.

The design emerged from what the studio calls an "intensive computational design process" that sought to prioritise "highly efficient, repeatable floorplates" within the building's curved geometry.

What does the tower look like?

The facade will consist of triangular glass panels, creating what the team describes as a "shimmering skin" that appears to shift in the changing light of the day.

The studio frames the tower as a deliberate break from convention. "Its unconventional, sinuous form resists the rigid verticality that has come to dominate contemporary office buildings, resulting in a structure that feels fluid, expressive and perpetually in motion," said the team.

Other elements include an entrance drive covered by a sculpted ceiling embedded with lights, intended to "evoke a night sky", and a double-height, glass-clad lobby. Both were designed by international design practice Design ALT + TAB.

Interior renderings show spaces finished in metallic bronze, with black-and-white marble surfaces and curved seating.

Who is behind the project?

The developer is Broadview Capital. According to the firm, the project was informed by the admiration its founders, brothers Anish and Ashay Bavishi, hold for Houston's Williams Tower, designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee.

The team said the skyscraper symbolises "ambition, possibility and global sophistication" for Houston. Designers and developers hope to bring that quality to the city's "prestigious" River Oaks area, known for its historic estates and luxury shopping.

"O27 serves as both a geographic marker and a tribute to a neighbourhood whose century-long legacy has been defined by thoughtful planning, architectural distinction and enduring relevance," said the team.

STG Design is based in Austin, Texas, and was founded in 1976.

What else is coming to Houston?

O27 joins a growing list of significant projects announced for the city. Recent plans include a coffee plant set to be converted into a music school by OMA, and a performance space created by Theaster Gates and Studio Zewde.

With its 2028 completion date, O27 will test whether a curved, computationally derived office tower can command the premium address its developers envision in River Oaks.