Location: 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX 77010
Year Built: 1987 at a price tag of $104.9 million, requiring 30 months and more than 1,200 workers. It replaced the obsolete Albert Thomas CC, which was later redeveloped into the Bayou Place entertainment complex in the downtown Houston Theater District.
Square Footage: The three-level, 100-foot-high convention center has 1.3 million square feet of usable space
Parking: There’s three parking garages with a total of 3,968 parking spots—two are connected via skybridge and the third is across the street. Within walking distance is the Tundra Garage with 2,478 parking spots.
Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in all public spaces. Daily internet access and exhibitor internet access is available for a daily fee per device, based on speed.
Hotels: The Hilton Americas-Houston (1,200 guest rooms), and the Marriott Marquis, (1,000 guest rooms), are both connected via skybridge. The Marquis features a rooftop deck complete with a lazy river in the shape of Texas.
Airport Info: The GRBCC is about 10 miles from William P. Hobby (HOU) Airport and about 20 miles from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) Airport. The GRBCC is served by METRORail light rail service.
Fun Fact #1: The building was named for internationally recognized entrepreneur, engineer, civic leader, philanthropist George Rufus Brown (1898-1983), who donated six of the 11 blocks necessary to build the GRBCC.
Fun Fact #2: The striking red, white and blue color scheme and nautical theme on the CC’s exterior has a purpose. Mechanical systems are painted red, structural supports are painted blue and building surfaces are painted white.
Fun Fact #3: There are 11 public art works in the GRBCC, all created by Houston area artists, and it’s also the first convention center in the world to have a permanent Bitcoin ATM.
Website: www.grbhouston.com
