609 Main by Hines–This 48 story office building designed by Pickard Chilton is complete with a dramatic, diagonal crown, making it a dramatic addition to Houston skyline.

The Star by Rusk at San Jacinto Partners LP, Provident Realty Advisors–This project was originally designed by the same architects behind New York's Grand Central Station. Vacant since the late 1980s and with three failed attempts at redevelopment behind it, The Star now sits as one of the most architecturally and historically significant buildings in downtown Houston.

In the for-profit small category (projects less than 100,000 square feet):

Heights Mercantile by Radom Capital LLC Heights–This sophisticated and pedestrian-driven shopping and dining destination includes seven first-to-market retail concepts: Warby Parker, Marine Layer, Will Leather Goods, Chubbies, Aesop, The Gypsy Wagon, Rye 51 and Postino. Trees for Houston donated sycamore trees to the project, which when added to existing street trees, helps make the area shady and comfortable even during the hot Houston summers.

East Village by Eado Investments LP, Ancorian–A custom sidewalk was created to float above the root structure of the area's large mature oak trees. The sidewalk was made to be wide enough to accommodate café seating, and with the considerations for the trees, diners and pedestrians can enjoy both the shade and beauty of these oaks.

In the not-for-profit category:

Moody Gardens Aquarium Redevelopment by Moody Gardens–The theme of the project was to illustrate how humans and ocean life can coexist. One of the centerpieces of the expansion illustrating this important concept is an exhibit crafted to look like an oil rig. Featuring the familiar steel structure of the rig on top and an aquarium below, it is a colorful visual on how fish, plants and marine life can transform the rig structures into a life-filled habitat.

HARC by HARC–As an organization focused on building a sustainable future, HARC set out to create a sustainable headquarters. Through innovative design, the building uses 70% less energy than a comparable building of the same size. Set to become the first certified commercial net-zero energy building in Texas, the HARC World HQ is a living lab and working example of sustainable design and architecture.

In the open space category:

Emancipation Park by the city of Houston–Phil Freelon, the architect who designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, was the design director on this expansion and renovation of Emancipation Park. This park's history dates back all the way to 1872 when four formerly enslaved individuals raised the funds to purchase the open space. These four founders will be commemorated with sculptures, one at each corner of the park.

Exploration Green by Clear Lake City Water Authority–This former golf course turned storm water detention and recreational space was featured as a success story for dealing with Houston's history of flooding.

The Woodlands Waterway by The Howard Hughes Corporation–A regional mixed-use destination, this 1.8 mile waterway surrounded by trails, restaurants, shopping, office and living space began as nothing more than a simple napkin sketch in 1972. While initial construction began in 1999, it is now some 45 years later, that this impactful development is complete.

Finalists were selected by a nomination panel of Houston real estate leaders that included Acho Azuike of DC Partners, Scott Saenger of Jones|Carter, Sherry Weesner of Scenic Houston, Roger Soto of HOK and Anissa Sabawala of O'Donnell/Snider.

A jury of three national real estate experts will travel to Houston to tour all finalists' projects this week to select the winners. The national jury includes Kim Kacani, president of HHHunt Communities in Virginia; Amanda Rhein, executive director of the nonprofit Atlanta Land Trust in Georgia; and Bob Springer, SVP commercial real estate banking for the commercial real estate banking team of Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Colorado. Finalists and winners will be honored on January 29, 2019 at a reception at the Astorian.

“This award program is a great opportunity to look ahead and appreciate the level of skill and creativity thriving in our area,” David Kim, executive director of ULI Houston, tells GlobeSt.com. “Reviewing the nominees this year, the nominating panel committee was particularly enthusiastic about the mix of historical and architecturally significant projects such as The Star and 609 Main alongside these accessible and neighborhood-focused developments like East Village and Heights Mercantile. The nonprofit and open space nominees are perpetuating a quality of life and new level of sustainability that is good for all neighborhoods.”