Paying homage to one of its earliest Black students, The University of Texas at Austin has purchased a historic commercial building designed by John Saunders Chase. As the first Black student to graduate from the School of Architecture and the first licensed Black architect in the state of Texas, Chase built a legacy of courage and community. The John S. and Drucie R. Chase Building is committed to recognizing and building community connection to the legacy of UT Austin’s first Black students and the larger Austin community. The restoration of the 450-square-foot building located at 1191 Navasota St. in Central East Austin supports this mission.
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.
