City Public Service Company Building

The building at 201 North Saint Mary's Street was completed in 1921 as the offices of the San Antonio Public Service Company (CPS). It is the first and only building constructed specifically to house the city's public utility provider. San Antonio Public Service Company was created in July, 1917 by the merger of San Antonio Traction Company and the San Antonio Gas and Electric Company. After this merger, the company experienced rapid expansion that paralleled the growth of the city, and it required larger offices to accommodate its business that served the transportation, gas and electrical needs of city residents. Continued expansion was anticipated, and the 3-story building was designed for additional floors that were added in 1927, bringing the building to its present 6-story height. The 1921 building was designed by Atlee B. Ayres, and the 1927 addition by Ayres and his son Robert M. Ayres. CPS remained at this location until June, 1955 when it outgrew the building and moved to its present headquarters at Navarro and Villita Streets.

The CPS Building satisfies Criterion A (local level) in the area Commerce as the home of San Antonio's utility provider for 34-years when the city grew from a population of 161,379 to over 406,811. (1920 and 1950 Federal Census) During this period, CPS restructured from a company providing both streetcar and utility services to only gas and electric services, then both bus and utility services and finally only utilities-developments that were typical of national trends in the early to mid-20th century. The building is also a good example of the evolving work of Atlee and Robert Ayres who designed not only the original building, but its 1927 addition and later remodeling. Together with other downtown San Antonio buildings, the CPS building contributes to the inventory of early reinforced concrete construction that was introduced in San Antonio in the early 20th century. The period of significance extends from 1921 to 1946.