Overlooking Houston‘s skyline from the Hilton Americas Hotel‘s 24th floor, a standing-room-only gathering of design, business and political leaders honored the first annual Alchemy Award winners.

“Design can be a medium for progressive change,” said Jim Mousner, Alchemy Award presenting sponsor and the founding partner of Origin. “The Alchemy Awards will educate more people about the ways design can improve our lives, engage more leaders in this effort, and encourage those who lead creatively.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 5,000 Houstonians work in the design industry, with an annual payroll exceeding $334 million. More than 2,000 Houston students are enrolled in University programs, preparing to enter creative design professions.

“We can talk about the economic impact of the creative community,” Mousner said. “But we can do more than just that. We can call for formation of a Houston Design Council to raise awareness of thoughtful, intentional design that improves our daily lives.”

Winners were awarded in four categories: Monica Pope (food), Owner of t‘afia and Beaver‘s, and co-founder of the Midtown Farmer‘s Market; Hines (shelter), for more than 50 years as a design innovator and the firm‘s commitment to environmentally responsible design; UT School of Nursing, Houston (health) for building the first US Green Building Council-certified “green” building in the Texas Medical Center; Horizon Wind Energy (energy), for its beautiful and functional Web site, and environmentally sensitive and beautiful wind farms; Anne Olson /Buffalo Bayou Partnership (catalyst), for her visionary and steadfast work to transform Houston‘s “birthplace bayou.”

An independent panel of judges selected Alchemy Award winners. Judges were:

Diane Barber, Co-Executive Director, DiverseWorks

Craig Minor, Principal, Minor Design and Designer, CITE magazine

Kellye Sanford, Designer, Gloss magazine/Houston Chronicle

Barrie Scardino, Executive Director, AIA Houston

Jason Stuart, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute Houston

Chloe Dao, Fashion Designer, Founder of Lot 8 Boutique and winner of Project Runway

Emily Todd, Mayor‘s Assistant for Cultural Affairs

Speaking on behalf of the judges, Emily Todd said, “The Alchemy Awards are meant to honor those chosen by design and community leaders as examples of what‘s really good. Not just in theory, but in the real world, with real projects that have been sustained over time.”

World Day of Design in Houston is the local version of an observance held each April around the world. In celebration of World Day of Design, an independent jury of design industry leaders selected Houston Alchemy Awards honorees to recognize companies, institutions and individuals transforming the ordinary into the exemplary through excellent design in all applications.

For more information, visit www.alchemyawards.org or contact Sahar Wali or Ann Taylor at Origin, 713-520-9544