Opinion BY Armin

Houston Astros Looking Stellar

Established in 1962 as the Houston Colt 45s, the Houston Astros, as they were renamed in 1965 when they moved into the Astrodome, are the Major League Baseball team for Houston, Texas. The team’s best season came in 2005 when they made it to the World Series but were swept by the Chicago White Sox. In November 2011, it was announced that, after 51 years in the National League, the Astros would move to the American League, a move that balances the two leagues, now each with 15. I’m sure to actual baseball fans this has more philosophical meaning but to me, as math equations go, it makes sense. This past Friday — after MLB stole its thunder by leaking merchandise with the new logo early (and offering an apology) — the Astros unveiled their new logo, uniforms, and mascot at their stadium.

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Opinion BY Armin

Reliant Lacks Energy

Based in Houston, TX, Reliant is one of the largest electricity and energy providers in the state with 1.5 million customers. More famously, Reliant is the name sponsor of Reliant Park, an entertainment complex that houses Carruth Plaza, Reliant Stadium (home to the NFL’s Houston Texans and 2004’s Super Bowl XXXVIII), Reliant Center, Reliant Arena and Reliant Astrodome. Reliant was acquired in 2009 by New Jersey-based NRG Energy, an, um, energy company (if there was any doubt), that is a Fortune 500 company. Over the summer, Reliant and NRG Energy introduced matching logos.

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Opinion BY Armin

Oily Wave

Founded as the Ohio Oil Company in 1887, the Marathon Oil Company, known as such since 1930, is an oil an energy company that has recently divided its two main businesses: 1) The “upstream” business, which is responsible for the exploration and mining of oil and 2) The “downstream” business, which is about the refining, marketing, and transportation of the oil. In broad terms. The upstream business has been spun-off into its own company called Marathon Petroleum Corporation and is keeping the old logo. The downstream business has kept the Marathon Oil Company name and adopted a new logo, designed by Houston, TX-based BrandExtract.

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Opinion BY Armin

Deconstructing CAMH’s Building

Founded in 1948, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH) is a “non-collecting institution dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting international, national, and regional art.” Located in Houston’s museum district, CAMH is housed in a very unconventional building — especially for Houston architecture standards — designed by architect Gunnar Birkerts. Viewed from the top, the building’s North and South walls are parallel to the street while the West and East walls are angled at 45 degrees. Viewed at street level, the building has a subtle but noticeable slant. It’s on these physical attributes (as well as an odd triangle shape that sits on top of the entrance) that CAMH has introduced a new logo and identity designed by New York-based AHL&CO.

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