Commercial Work

Mah designed some of Memphis' most significant postwar institutional buildings — from the First National Bank Operations Center to the Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth Synagogue. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The only hope for Memphis to assume the beauty of a planned city is a total cohesive design formulated by both engineers and architects. Architecture is the art and science of organizing space in relation to man's total environment inside a beautiful structure as well as outside on the street."
— Walk C. Jones, III, speaking to the Engineers Club of Memphis, 1969

Commercial/1962-1998

Leader Federal Building
158 Madison Avenue, Memphis
1962
Client: Leader Federal Savings and Loan
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Award: Gulf States AIA Merit Award (1962)
Source: American Architects Directory, 1970

First Tennessee Bank
Third and Madison, Memphis
1964
Client: First Tennessee Bank
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Source: Alan Karchmer Collection, University of Memphis Libraries

City of Memphis Hospital
Memphis
1966–1979
Client: City of Memphis / Shelby County
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.; Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, May 24, 1979

Hutchison School
Memphis, Tennessee
1966
Client: Hutchison School
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Award: Gulf States AIA Merit Award (1966)
Source: Interiors, April 1967

Hernando Bank
Hernando, Mississippi
1966–67
Client: The Hernando Bank
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Source: Architectural Record, May 1967

Memphis Country Club Athletic Annex
Memphis, Tennessee
1967
Client: Memphis Country Club
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, November 23, 1967

Balmoral Presbyterian Church
6413 Quince, Memphis, Tennessee
1969
Client: Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Source: American Architects Directory, 1970

Memphis State University Library
Memphis, Tennessee
1969
Client: Memphis State University
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Award: Gulf States AIA Merit Award (1969)
Source: American Architects Directory, 1970

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, Massachusetts
1969–1975
Client: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Awards: Tennessee Chapter AIA Design Award (1978); TSA Award (1978)
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, October 31, 1978

Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth Synagogue
Memphis
1970
Client: Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth Congregation
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Award: Award of Excellence for Design of Interiors (1972)
National Register of Historic Places (2020)
Source: National Register of Historic Places nomination, 2020

Southern College of Optometry
1245 Madison, Memphis
1970
Client: Southern College of Optometry
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Awards: AIA Gulf States Regional, Educational Design Award (1975); College & University Business, One of Ten Best-Designed College Buildings (1971)
Source: Commercial Appeal, February 28, 1971

First National Bank Operations Center
300 Court Avenue, Memphis
1971
Client: First National Bank
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
National Register of Historic Places (2024)
Source: National Register of Historic Places nomination, July 12, 2024

Luther Towers
Highland and Cowden, Memphis
1971
Client: Luther Towers
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
First use of the Mah-LeMessurier precast concrete module system
Source: Architectural Record, April 1971

Buckman Laboratories
1256 N. McLean, Memphis
1972
Client: Buckman Laboratories
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones–Mah & Jones Architects, Inc.
Award: Tennessee Society of Architects, Top Honors (1972)
Source: Commercial Appeal, November 26, 1972

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Addition
332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis
1972
Client: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, May 18, 1972

Yodogawa Christian Hospital
Osaka, Japan
1972
Client: Yodogawa Christian Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, August 18, 1972

Naval Hospital Millington
Navy Road, Millington, Tennessee
1972
Client: U.S. Navy
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, April 28, 1972

Brooks Museum Addition
Memphis
1973
Client: Brooks Memorial Art Gallery
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: AIA Gulf States Regional, Institutional Design Award (1975)
Source: Commercial Appeal, November 9, 1975

South Central Bell Central Office
115 Walnut Street, Collierville, Tennessee
1973–74
Client: South Central Bell
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, October 18, 1973

U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail Center
Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis
1973–75
Client: U.S. Postal Service
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, April 27, 1973

Craigmont Junior-Senior High School
3333 Covington Pike, Memphis
1974
Client: Memphis City Schools
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, February 20, 1975

Shelby State Community College
Memphis, Tennessee
1974
Client: Shelby State Community College
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, March 3, 1974

Collierville School
Collierville, Tennessee
1974
Client: Shelby County Board of Education
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, December 6, 1974

Ridgeway Center
756 Ridgelake Blvd, Memphis
1972–1974
Client: Boyle Investment Company
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, April 9, 1972

Going to Market
Memphis, Tennessee
1975
Client: Ed Sapinsley Jr.
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, June 27, 1975

Federal Youth Center
Shelby County Penal Farm, Memphis
1975–76
Client: Federal Bureau of Prisons / General Services Administration
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, December 4, 1975

International Fertilizer Development Center
Florence, Alabama
1975–76
Client: International Fertilizer Development Center
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, December 17, 1975

South Central Bell Central Office — Arlington
Walker and Greenlee, Arlington, Tennessee
1975–76
Client: South Central Bell
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, August 21, 1975

Mitchell Road Community Center
Mitchell and Sax Roads, Memphis
1976
Client: City of Memphis
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, March 3, 1976

Hyatt Regency Memphis
Memphis
1975
Client: Hyatt
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: Excellence in Masonry, Merit Award (1981)
Published in Architectural Record, February 1976
Now the Hilton Memphis
Source: Architectural Record, February 1976

Memphis Publishing Company Building
Memphis
1977
Client: Memphis Publishing Company
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Demolished 2026
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, May 11, 1977

Bank of Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
1977
Client: Bank of Mississippi
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, May 11, 1977

MATA Complex
North Watkins and Levee Road, Memphis
1977–1980
Client: Memphis Area Transit Authority
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: AISC Architectural Award of Excellence (1983)
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, July 1, 1978

Baptist Memorial Hospital East
Walnut Grove Road and Brierbrook Street, Memphis
1976–1979
Client: Baptist Memorial Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: Excellence in Masonry, Top Honors (1980)
Source: Memphis Press-Scimitar, August 12, 1976

Memphis State University Fine Arts Complex
Memphis
1981
Client: Memphis State University
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: Masonry Institute of Tennessee Award of Merit (1984)
Source: Commercial Appeal, September 23, 1984

Swiss Manor Restaurant
Memphis, Tennessee
1982
Client: Otto Gross and Hans Huber
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Award: Excellence in Masonry, Top Honor (1981)
Source: Commercial Appeal, February 5, 1982

Julius Lewis Department Store
Memphis, Tennessee
1982
Client: Julius Lewis
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, March 31, 1982

Farm Credit Banks of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
1983
Client: Farm Credit Banks
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Indiana Limestone Institute of America handbook

Baptist School of Nursing Dormitory Complex
Memphis, Tennessee
1983
Client: Baptist Memorial Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, April 21, 1983

Baptist Memorial Hospital Laundry Facility
Memphis, Tennessee
1984
Client: Baptist Memorial Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Commercial Appeal, April 10, 1984

Regional Medical Center at Memphis
Memphis
1980
Client: Regional Medical Center
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: Architectural Record, January 1980

Oxford–Lafayette County Hospital
Oxford, Mississippi
1985
Client: Oxford–Lafayette County Hospital
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Walk Jones & Francis Mah, Inc.
Source: City of Oxford Board minutes

Holiday Inn Corporate Headquarters
1023 Cherry Road, Memphis
1987
Client: Holiday Inn
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Jones Mah Gaskill Rhodes (JMGR)
Source: Commercial Appeal, July 8, 1985

JMGR Offices, Brinkley Plaza
80 Monroe Avenue, Memphis
1987
Client: JMGR
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Jones Mah Gaskill Rhodes (JMGR)
Source: Commercial Appeal, May 29, 1987

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Visitors Center
Millington, Tennessee
1998
Client: Tennessee State Parks
Architect: Francis Mah
Firm: Independent practice
Source: Commercial Appeal, November 30, 1995