Jesse H. Jones, the most influential developer and retail banker in early-twentieth-century Houston, contracted with the St. Louis architectural firm of Mauran, Russell & Crowell to design and build a skyscraper to house the bank.

The twelve-story concrete building wass set on a two-story limestone base, with very detailed ornament on the Main Street facade.

Columns, architraves, and carved heads in the likeness of Mercury decorated the bays on the Main Street side of the building.

Initially subdivided into 396 offices, its notable early tenants included Harrie Lindeberg and John Staub.

[2] The 12-story hotel features 135 guest rooms[4] and nine individually designed signature suites that include custom-designed period furnishings and décor with original artwork.