The Paul Building, Houston, Texas
historic place
The Paul Building, located at 1018 Preston Avenue in Downtown Houston, Harris County, Texas, was completed in 1907. Designed by the architectural firm Sanguinet and Staats, this eight-story structure exemplifies the Chicago School of commercial architecture. The building is distinguished by its brown brick walls and terra cotta ornaments, which feature carved 'P' monograms representing its original owner, Allen Paul. Upon its completion, the Paul Building stood as one of Houston's largest commercial buildings and an early skyscraper. In 1910, the Paul Building housed the United States District Court. Its location near the county courthouse made it a popular address for numerous attorneys and other law-related professionals. Throughout its history, the building has also been known as the Hoffman Building, the Turnbow Building, and the Republic Building. The Paul Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 6, 1979. It represents an important architectural and historical link to Houston's development in the early 20th century.