Feature Illustration: Artist rendering of The RO. Image: Pickard Chilton.
Posted: 11-10-2025
Houston (Harris County) — Construction has begun on the next phase of The RO, a 17-acre mixed-use development at West Alabama Street and Buffalo Speedway that aims to redefine the edge of Houston’s historic River Oaks neighborhood.
The large-scale project — described by Transwestern as a once-in-a-generation development — combines luxury residences, office space, hospitality, and retail in a unified, pedestrian-friendly environment.
The new phase includes The Birdsall, Auberge Collection, Houston’s first Auberge-branded hotel and residences, alongside Retail Village, The Clayton luxury multifamily tower, and a 145,000-square-foot Class AA office building. The office building is nearing completion, with occupancy expected in June 2026. Meanwhile, The Birdsall, Retail Village, and The Clayton are slated to deliver by late 2027.
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, The Birdsall will rise 34 stories with 44 private residences situated above a 105-room boutique hotel managed by the Auberge Collection. The hotel will feature interiors designed by Roman and Williams, while Houston-based architect Dillon Kyle will design the residences. Other components include The Clayton’s 317 luxury apartments by Pickard Chilton and a landscaped Retail Village designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, which will showcase chef-driven restaurants and boutique retail beneath preserved heritage oak trees.
According to Transwestern, financing for the various components includes loans from Madison Realty Capital, Citizens Bank, Amegy Bank, and Texas Capital, with participation from private investors. “This ambitious project is placemaking at its finest,” said Robert Duncan, Transwestern’s Executive Chairman. “By creating spaces where people want to live, work, and visit, The RO will honor the legacy of River Oaks while shaping Houston’s future skyline.”
Click here to unlock your next lead now, or call us at 1.877.221.6418. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
