In 2018, the University of Texas at Austin purchased a historic commercial building designed by John Saunders Chase, a pioneering architect who built a legacy of courage and community. The John S. and Drucie R. Chase Building is dedicated to honoring and fostering community connections to UT Austin’s students and the broader Austin community. The restoration of the 450-square-foot building, located at 1191 Navasota St. in Central East Austin, aligned with this mission. Chase was the first Black student to graduate from the School of Architecture and the first licensed Black architect in Texas.
Built in 1952, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places and originally served as the headquarters for the Colored Teachers Association of Texas. Throughout the years, the minimalist-inspired building has boasted a long history of social impact in the Black community, most recently as the House of Elegance. The building will continue its legacy of community engagement.
Watch this video to see why Preservation Austin honored the University with a 2021 Preservation Merit Award for this restoration project.
