Asia Society Texas Center
Houston's newest jewel of a building was designed by internationally renown architect Yoshio Taniguchi with meticulous detail. With floor-to-ceiling windows and fine materials (limestone walls, balsatina floors, wood paneling), the building exudes a calming, Zen-like quality. To keep the building as compact and horizontal as possible, the 273-seat theater was situated a full story below ground. To deal with the narrow spaces between floors, air-conditioning ductwork was minimized by used a geothermal cooling system under the parking lot across the street. And the views of the downtown Houston skyline from the second floor are spectacular.
Seating 40, with space for additional tables outside, The Jade Stone Café at Asia Society offers visitors an intimate place for a cup of tea, a snack, and other light fare, plus free Wi-Fi service. Café Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Closed Mondays and major holidays
Admission to the building is free; admission to exhibits $5 for non-members.