Historic Lofts at the Praetorian

The Praetorian was designed by the Dallas architectural firm of C.W. Bulger and Son and was built by Hughes O’Rouke Construction for the Praetorian Insurance Company. Construction began in 1913 and was completed in 1915. The Praetorian building in Waco is one of the best preserved designs of its kind from its era, with strong design elements from the Chicago School of Design. The base and crown of the building are inspired by the capitals of Roman columns and the middle floors act as the central shaft of the column.

The Praetorian was known by several names over the years. In 1934 it named Service Mutual Building. In 1956, it became Southwestern Building. It later changed names to both Franklin Tower, One Liberty Place, and Williams Tower. The Praetorian was entered in the National Register of Historic Places on July 26, 1984, and by the late 1990’s, the Praetorian name was restored to the building.