[7] In 1927, Jones started developing an art deco skyscraper for Gulf at the northwest corner of Rusk Avenue and Main Street in Houston, the former site of the Charlotte Baldwin Allen homestead.

While Jones usually hired Alfred C. Finn for his major projects, for the design of the Gulf Building, he brought in Kenneth Franzheim, and J. E. R. Carpenter to collaborate.

The architects created and considered several designs before choosing one inspired by Eliel Saarinen's second-place-but-acclaimed entry in the Chicago Tribune Tower competition.

[8] When Houston hosted the 1928 Democratic National Convention, the superstructure of the Gulf Building was in plain view.

National Bank of Commerce occupied a vaulted lobby with access from Main and Travis streets, as well as a large space in the basement.

Texas Commerce Bank initiated the restoration of the building in 1989, in what is still considered one of the largest privately funded preservation projects in American history.

Meanwhile, part of the deal included a leaseback of sixty percent of the office space of the JPMorgan Building by the bank, where it continued to maintain its Houston headquarters.

The banking center has 43 ft (13 m) ceilings, floors and walls made of marble, and large stained glass windows.