Dallas is the 9th largest city in the United States by population (1,258,000) and is the largest city of the Dallas-Fort Worth Combined Statistical Area in North Texas (the 7th largest in the United States).
Downtown is a fairly dense flat area where two rectilinear street grid systems meet at an angle, and is surrounded by freeways on all sides. It is dominated by a wide cluster of office and hotel highrises (especially those built in the 1980's) although residential conversions of some are becoming increasingly common. It has a reputation of being a city that lacks historic architecture, but in fact there are many examples scattered throughout the core. Urban parks are a notable asset with the recent addition of several more. A few sub-neighborhoods in downtown are notable: the West End for its low and mid-rise brick buildings (some are historic commercial buildings, others made to match) and the Arts District (an 11-block stretch on the Northern perimeter composed of theaters and art museums developed in the past 30 years).
Reunion Tower and Hyatt Regency, 1978:
Located at the far Western end of downtown, the tower contains a restaurant and bar and is 560 feet tall. The hotel received additions in 2000.
Thanksgiving Tower, 1982:
Bank of America Plaza, 1985:
This is Dallas' tallest building, at 921 feet.
Renaissance Tower, 1974:
This tower was renovated in 1986 when the roof towers were added and the glazing was changed to express the structural cross-bracing that lies within.
Fountain Place, 1986:
Another of the several buildings in Dallas designed by I.M Pei, this one is surrounded by an impressive landscape of pools and fountains designed by Dan Kiley.
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 1989:
This Arts District theater was also designed by I. M Pei.
Dallas Museum of Art, 1984:
The first of the new buildings composing the Arts District created in the last 30 years, this was designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes.
Lubben Plaza, 1987:
This sculpture garden was developed by the Belo Corporation, whose building across the street is featured next.
Belo Building, 1984:
2100 Ross, 1982:
Lincoln Plaza, 1984:
Trammell Crow Center, 1985:
This tower in the Arts District features a small museum - the Crow Collection of Asian Art - and an Asian themed garden at its base.
JP Morgan Chase Tower, 1987:
Bank One Center, 1987:
Now the Comerica Bank Tower, this was designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee.
Rosa Parks Plaza, 2009:
This is located at the West End Station, serving the city's light rail and busses.
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts and Visual Arts, 2008:
This arts magnet public school in the Arts District is composed of a few buildings; shown here is its latest addition. The Montgomery Theater is part of the campus and faces the district's main street, Flora St., where all the other theaters are located...an enviable position for a school with this focus!
City Performance Hall, 2012:
Across the street from the high school is this theater, which will be expanded with another phase in the future.
Belo Garden, 2012:
Nasher Sculpture Center, 2003:
This Arts District attraction features a gallery building designed by Renzo Piano and a large garden designed by Piano and Peter Walker.
Flora Ave.:
This is the main street of the Arts District.
One Arts Plaza, 2007:
Strangely, Flora St. terminates at a building that has nothing to do with the arts...it houses the U.S. headquarters of 7-11 as well as some residences.
The Element:
Main Street Garden, 2009:
Winspear Opera House, 2009:
Designed by Foster & Partners, this Arts District structure features a Grand Portico which partially shelters the surrounding Performance Park.
Wyly Theater, 2009:
Across Flora St. from the Winspear Opera House, this unusual theater was designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus.
Dallas Police Officers Memorial, 2001:
Dallas Convention Center Addition, 2002:
First Baptist Dallas Addition, 2013:
Hunt Oil Tower, 2007:
Omni Dallas, 2011:
Museum Tower, 2012:
This residential tower is in the Arts District and is controversial due to the reflected light it casts into the adjacent Nasher Sculpture Center's garden. The center has closed a Skyspace installation by James Turell called 'Tending, (Blue)" due to the tower ruining the view from within, although it may be redesigned to obscure the tower.
All photographs taken in 2013 by geomorph.
For my other Dallas threads, see:
Downtown - Part 1:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=211580
Fair Park:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=206422
Uptown and Victory Park:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=211603
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Ridiculous. I'm loving it, it looks absolutely terrific.
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