Finn 's first commission was as project manager for the Rice Hotel , under contract with the firm of Mauran , Russell & Crowell . The owner of the new hotel , Jesse H. Jones , soon after established a collaboration with Finn which would change the face of Downtown Houston . Finn designed two buildings for Jones across the way from the Rice Hotel : the Foster Building , aka the Houston Chronicle Building , in 1914 , and the Rusk Building in 1916 . The corner of Texas and Travis was dominated by buildings built by Finn and Jones . In 1926 , Finn designed a new seventeen-story wing for the Rice Hotel on behalf of Jones . Finn did architectural work for other commercial clients in the 1920s . He completed State National Bank Building ( NHRP-listed ) at 412 Main Street in 1923 . Jones contracted with Finn to build the Lamar Hotel , where Jones established his new residence . The Jones apartment consumed the whole top floor , though he hired John F. Staub for the interior design . Jones also promised a venue for the 1928 Democratic National Convention without consulting the city of Houston , pledging $ 200,000 of his own capital . He engaged Finn and Kenneth Franzheim to design and erect the Sam Houston Hall in just four months . The Sam Houston Hall , ostensibly built to be a temporary structure , was larger than Madison Square Garden , and equipped with heavy-duty fans and apertures between the roof and the walls to facilitate air flow . Jones contracted with Finn on another project in downtown Houston , this time with in collaboration with Franzheim and J.E.R. Carpenter , to finish the 37-story , art deco Gulf Building in 1929 at that time the tallest building in Texas
1928 Democratic National Convention
1928 Democratic National Convention
Alfred C. Finn