Chief Architect of Houston's Urban Design and Development
A Carnegie Mellon-educated engineer, Andy Icken believes in Houston. So much so that, in 2000 after retiring from his 33-year career as an Exxon executive, he followed his passion back into the office to work for the Texas Medical Center (TMC), where he led massive redevelopment projects including the transformation of the old Nabisco cookie factory into a multi-use facility and the construction of the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons/TMC Parking Garage 15. He became executive vice president of TMC before transitioning again, becoming Houston's Chief Development Officer in 2006. He remained in that office through four mayoral administrations until his next retirement in 2024.
'He's like the Wizard of Oz.' What does former Houston Mayor Annise Parker think of Andy?
Andy has long associations with key Houston organizations, including the Downtown Management District board and at one point served as board chair for the South Main Alliance SMA representing the Texas Medical Center. It was through these connections that he, along with visionary developer Ed Wulfe, Bob Eury and Houston City Council member Peter Brown, began exploring SMAs potential as a bridging organization connecting the larger Houston community to its world-famous medical center and the myriads of amazing institutions surrounding it.
Barbara Bush once described the TMC as 'a gift to the world.' Andy agrees and describes what that means for Houston.
Andy's career is marked by episodes of Houston's most challenging times, most notably during the aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Working alongside regional legends like Dr. Red Duke and Dr. David Persse, he was a firsthand witness to the resilience of the medical center and its surrounding community as it recovered from the devastating storm, then rose together to improve Houston's emergency infrastructure.
'I want you to drink milk!' Listen as Andy describes the impact of, and response to, the devastation left by Tropical Storm Allison.
The South Main corridor embodies Andy's belief in Houston as a 'can do' city. From the earliest years of the oil and gas industry to the birth of the petrochemical industry, and now to Rice University's current work developing medical instruments and commercializing new ideas and products, Houston, Andy says, is where the future happens.
Hear Andy's story about how Houston's resilience relies on our highly skilled workforce.
Now in a consulting retirement, Andy continues to mentor the next generation. His advice: seek opportunities to be "part of the solution." He firmly believes the best decisions emerge through public debate and carefully listening to diverse views. For Andy, the work of shaping Houston is never finished; it is a continuous process of re-examining the mission and ensuring the "light can shine" from every project he touches.
There's still work to be done! Hear Andy's advice on how YOU can make a difference.