The Tim Huhn Mural: 10 ft. tall, nearly 100 linear ft., spanning the entire lobby
A historic downtown Houston office space that seamlessly integrates timeless architecture with today's first-class working amenities.
Our building was not always called 1001 McKinney. Our origins date back to 1939, when renowned architect Alfred C. Finn was charged to design a building for Houston's City National Bank. Construction finally began in 1946, and a long-overdue grand opening was held on October 13, 1947.
Billed as the "First Post-War Skyscraper of the Southwest" and the second tallest building in Houston at the time, 1001 McKinney was introduced with excited fanfare. Commissioned by James A. Elkins Sr., founding partner of Vinson and Elkins, the building also housed early tenants including Humble Oil and Phillips Petroleum, predecessors to ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips.
Today, much of the building's original Art Moderne design still exists: the marble walls, the geometric designs, the grand ceiling detail, and the three-story red marble columns. Recognized by the National Register of Historic Places since April 3, 2000, 1001 McKinney is a premier example of historic preservation in downtown Houston.
As building ownership changed hands over the years, a series of renovations stripped the lobby of its storied past. In 2020, TRC Capital Partners and Gensler Houston restored the authentic Art Deco design cues that evoke the building's original era.
Gensler unified both ground-floor lobbies, improved circulation, and transformed the space into an inviting environment that encourages tenants and visitors to linger. New finishes in the tunnel, a redesigned 5th floor skybridge entry, a full fitness center, and a boardroom-quality conference facility were all added as part of the project, earning a Houston Business Journal Landmark Award finalist nomination.
The centerpiece of the renovation is the Tim Huhn mural: 10 feet tall and nearly 100 linear feet, spanning the entire lobby ceiling.
Artist Tim Huhn spent three months creating this spectacular piece. The female figure represents Houston's rural beauty and natural resources: the bayou, the Texas bluebonnet, the magnolia. The male figure on the right symbolizes the industrialized drive of the 1930s: oil pump jacks, streamliners, and aircraft moving into the future. The 1001 McKinney building stands tall at center, flanked by iconic 1930s and 1940s Houston skyscrapers.
Huhn incorporated the building's own design elements into the mural: the bottom border is inspired by exterior architectural cornices, and the corners are decorated with pairs of honeybees, referencing the air vent designs found in the building's entrances.
Of all the details from Finn's original design, we have a clear favorite: the honeybee. Aloft the building's Main Street entry sits an aluminum frame embossed with the icon of a bee. The bee is symbolic of diligence, work, and good order, a fitting icon for the original City National Bank, and just as relevant for the 1001 McKinney of today.
We incorporated it throughout the 1001 McKinney brand, including our logo. Our team prides itself on being hard-working, nimble, fast, and efficient, just like a bee.
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