Frank Garvey and Jackson Hicks for the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic lobby of the First National Bank Building, 201 Main at Franklin, as The Corinthian, a special events venue, with special mention to Frank Garvey for the renovation of the remainder of the building as the Franklin Lofts

Other winners 2010 Kane, an 1890s "Folk Victorian" house in Old Sixth Ward 2337 Blue Bonnet, a 1937 International Style residence 2421 Brentwood, a 1929 Katharine Mott-designed home 201 Main, the former First National Bank Building Spire Realty Group for its commitment to preservation downtown 1600 Westheimer, the former Imperial Plumbing Supply Building 3842 N. Braeswood, a 1960 modern office building 4916 Main, the former Weldon Cafeteria Keck Hall (Chemistry Building), Rice University Girl Scout Troop 12357, San Jacinto Council, for research and assistance at Glenwood Cemetery John L. Nau III for his leadership in preservation AIA 25 year award: Mies van der Rohe additions to the Museum of Fine Arts This magnificent double stair was constructed as part of the restoration of the banking hall at 201 Main. Care was taken to match the stair railing with existing railing on the mezzanine. (Photo by Janice E. Ashton) More photos from this project > The First National Bank Building was the tallest in Houston when it was completed in 1904. First National Bank traced its history to 1866 when it was organized by B. A. Shepherd and T. M. Bagby, for whom Houston streets are named. The architects were Sanguinet and Staats, considered at the time to be Texas' foremost skyscraper architects. First National Bank occupied the building through two expansions until 1956, when it became known as the Bettes Building. It was later purchased and occupied by Lomas & Nettleton, who eventually sold it to Harris County. Throughout this chain of ownership, the exterior of the building remained essentially unchanged, but the interiors did not fare as well. During the 1950s, drop ceilings and work cubicles were installed in the magnificent, 40,000-square-foot banking hall. Harris County considered demolishing the building in the early 1990s, but had a change of heart when Greater Houston Preservation Alliance intervened. When the building came to the attention of Frank Garvey in the late 1990s, the county was using it as storage space for, among other things, old prison beds. Frank Garvey, a developer, first discovered the building while working on an adjacent building. He acquired 201 Main in 1999 and began restoring the beauty of "what was." While developing the upper floors into residential lofts was relatively easy, Garvey considered what to do with the banking hall. He was determined not to chop it up into smaller spaces, but wasn't sure what its best use would be. This problem was solved when caterer Jackson Hicks suggested that the banking hall be restored as an events facility. Garvey served as general contractor for the renovation of the banking hall, and the result is an exciting new events facility known as The Corinthian. The restored Corinthian columns in the block-long hall rise 35 feet to the intricately detailed original plaster ceiling. A spectacular new double staircase replaces the small, narrow one First National Bank used to limit public access to the mezzanine. The original marble floor of the banking hall could not be saved, but the new floor is almost an exact copy of the old. The original clocks of the First National Bank lobby were found stored in a closet, and they have been restored and replaced in their rightful places. The magnificence of the result speaks for itself. Garvey and Hicks' work is an enormous contribution to the revitalization of downtown Houston. See more photos from this project > Next winner: Spire Realty Group > Text: Martha Peterson Copyright 2003, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance This year's sponsors > GHPA home >