Galas
The Rice Design Alliance Gala is an annual event that draws the architecture, building, engineering, and design communities together to celebrate those individuals and institutions that have made an impact on the built environment.
Since 1987 the Rice Design Alliance has awarded individuals and institutions with the RDA Award for Design Excellence for making exceptional contributions to architecture and design in Houston and Texas. Former recipients include Gerald D. Hines, George and Cynthia Mitchell, the family of J. S. Cullinan, Rice University, Constantine S. Nicandros, Warren S. Bellows, Jr., Stanley Marcus, Raymond Brochstein, Anne S. Bohnn Brown, Jesse H. Jones (posthumously), S. I. Morris, Walter P. Moore, Jr., BMC Software, the Texas Medical Center, Central Houston, Inc., METRO, Ed Wulfe, Herbert Wells, Sadie Gwin Blackburn, and Phoebe and Bobby Tudor.
The RDA Gala is a much-anticipated event that in recent years has drawn more than 1,000 architects, design professionals, engineers, contractors, developers, and RDA members. Funds raised support RDA programs and its journal Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston.
For more information, see the list of past galas and the gala archive.
2012: 100 100 40 30
Centennial Tent, Rice University
Honoree: Stephen Klineberg
Celebrating the 100th anniversaries of Rice University and the Rice School of Architecture, the 40th anniversary of the Rice Design Alliance, and the 30th anniversary Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston
2011: Canopy: The Woodlands Grows Up
Bayou City Event Center
Honoree: The Woodlands Development Co.
2010: Progressive Art: Infrastructure, Greenspaces and Waterways
Hilton Americas
Honoree: Art Storey, Jr.
2009: Hue: Contributing to a Vibrant Community
Hilton Americas
Honorees: Phoebe & Bobby Tudor
2008: Picnic: A Soirée by the Park
Hilton Americas
Honoree: Discovery Green
2007: Green Matters Green Works
One & Two Allen Center
Honoree: Sadie Gwin Blackburn
2006: Space City Style
Hilton Americas
Honorees: Houston Firms from the Sixties
2005: A Modern Classic
The Pavilion
Honoree: Herbert Wells
2004: Man in Motion
METRO Headquarters
Honoree: Ed Wulfe
2003: Evolve, Revolve
1500 Louisiana Building
Honoree: Central Houston Inc.
2002: 20:20 Celebrating 20 Years of Cite
Reliant Stadium
Honoree: Rice School of Architecture; Cite contributors recognized
2001: Healthy by Design
Former Nabisco Plant
Honoree: Texas Medical Center
2000: RDAgala.com
BMC Software campus
Honoree: Max Watson/ BMC
1999: Enginuity!
El Paso building lobby
Honoree: Walter P. Moore (posthumously)
1998: SI-ber-space
Hornberger Conference Center
Honoree: SI Morris
1997: Hi Yo Silver!
Petroleum Club
Honorees: Anne Schlumberger Bohnn Brown
RDA 25th Anniversary Award to Jesse Jones
1996: Veneer to Eternity
Reliant Energy building
Honoree: Raymond Brochstein
1995: High Style
Neiman-Marcus Galleria
Honoree: Stanley Marcus
1994: Sheetrock Around the Clock
First City Bank pavilion
Honoree: Warren S. Bellows received the award on behalf of W. S. Bellows Construction Corporation. A total of ten construction firms were honored including Tellepsen Corporation; Fretz Construction Company; Marshall Construction Company, Inc.; Meyerson Builders, Inc.; Schneider Construction Company, Inc.; Linbeck Corporation; The Miner-Dedcrick Companies; D. E. Harvey Builders; and The Lott Group, Inc.
1993: Ball of Energy
Doubletree Hotel Galleria
Honoree: Constantine S. Nicandro
1992: Heart of the Park
Warwick Hotel
Honoree: The Family of Lucie Halm & Joseph Stephen Cullinan
1991: 100 Years of Design Excellence
Rice Memorial Center
Honoree: Rice University
1990: Think Big!
Republic Bank
Honoree: George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell
1989: Rive Gauche
1100 Louisiana
Honoree: Gerald D. Hines
1988: A Step Back in Time
Rice University Academic Court
Honoree: Jack Mitchell
1987: Fight for Cite
Boxing Center
Honoree: Josephine Abercrombie
