A sweeping restoration of the Commercial National Bank building at 917 Franklin St. has officially been completed, according to a news release from NewForm Real Estate. Dating back to 1904, the six-story building previously was home to one of Houston’s largest financial institutions.
William Marsh Rice, founder of Rice University, also maintained office space on the third floor of the building, with some of the university’s first offices occupying space on the sixth floor until 1926.
“Original elements such as exposed brick, hardwood floors, plaster walls, and historic architectural details were preserved and restored wherever possible,” according to the release.
Extensive facade work, window repairs, masonry cleaning and upgraded lighting revamped the building’s exterior. On the inside, the restored building features a redesigned lobby, modernized building systems, updated office suites with new lighting, audio-visual infrastructure and kitchenettes.
The upgrades revitalized the office space, while the ground floor saw bars and a coffee shop added. Additional retail is in progress.
“917 Franklin represents a defining piece of Houston’s architectural and cultural history,” Dan Zimmerman, president of NewForm Real Estate, said in the release. “We’re proud to serve as stewards of this landmark, approaching its restoration with a commitment to preserving its historic character while thoughtfully updating the building to meet the needs of today’s tenants.”
Zimmerman said the renovation honors the past while contributing to downtown Houston’s future.
“The Commercial National Bank building now joins the restored Raphael, Dorrance, and Brewster buildings next door, collectively shaping a revitalized block that brings together Houston’s architectural legacy with a new generation of offices, restaurants, and cultural energy,” Zimmerman said.
The building is an expansion of NewForm’s Main&Co, a collection of restored historic buildings between Franklin and Commerce streets in downtown Houston. Main&Co is home to a growing roster of tenants, home to The Fifth Vessel, Thai Café, Liv Houston, Distrito Federal and more.
Originally designed by architectural firm Green and Svarz, 917 Franklin’s interior design was a collaboration with M.Naeve, with Andres Construction heading development.
Stream Realty is leasing available office space throughout Main&Co. A 3,390-square-foot street-level retail space, ideal for a restaurant concept, is also available for lease through Rebel Retail Advisors.