Kress Building
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Why it's listed
Rising eight stories at the corner of Main and Capitol Streets in downtown Houston, this 1913 building was designed by Seymour Burrell, staff architect for S.H. Kress & Co. Its reinforced concrete frame is covered almost entirely in terra cotta, with gray terra cotta imitating stone at the base and white terra cotta above, decorated with brightly colored ornament in ochre and green. The facades follow Beaux-Arts habits of symmetry and a three-part vertical arrangement, with Italian Renaissance detailing. A four-story annex to the east began as the 1910 Gas Building and was remodeled by Kress in 1952-53. A 1983 renovation changed the storefronts and removed the original cornice and parapet, yet the building keeps enough integrity to show its past. It is listed for its role in Houston's commerce. It was one of the company's largest buildings, included professional offices, and reflects the city's early 20th-century growth. It now contains lofts and retail space.
Significance in brief: The building is nominated at the local level under Criterion A in the area of Commerce. It is a lasting remnant of downtown Houston's early 20th-century commercial development and of the S.H. Kress & Co. five-and-dime chain. It was one of the company's largest buildings and was unusual for including professional offices.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02001102, listed October 4, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 705 Main St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | October 4, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001102 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Architect (1913) = Seymour Burrell; Builder (1913) = Buchanan & Gilder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions are multiple dwelling (St. Germain Lofts) and retail store. A 1983 renovation altered the storefronts and removed the cornice and parapet. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.75886, -95.36287 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02001102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016147
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.