Silver anniversary memories
Rise of the Wortham Theater Center: How it all began
Jun 2, 2012 | 4:30 pm

Photo by Jia Li
In the 1980s, everyone agreed that Houston needs a new performing arts center. Even a recession couldn't stop the Wortham Center from rising in downtown Houston.
Fundraising began in earnest in 1980, with a $1-million grant from the Shell Oil Company foundation and soon rose to $16 million in funds and pledges. In September 1981, the Wortham Foundation [https: /investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4965175] granted $15 million, quickly followed by $5 million each from the Brown [https://www.brownfoundation.org/] and Cullen Foundations, whereupon the name of the building and its two theaters were settled. In 1983, Houston City Council approved the last of several design plans by the Houston firm of Morris/Aubry to construct the 437,500-sq.-ft.building on two city-owned blocks. ------------- As the building rose, it at first looked like a big erector set.



