Description

Aiming to reposition Dallas among the top convention cities in the United States, the City of Dallas commissioned a feasibility study which concluded with the imperative to build a primary convention center hotel.  The City charged the development team with the responsibility for developing a successful program, a new landmark for the City, a sustainable building, and a new beacon to signify Dallas's re-emergence among the top competitors for the national convention businesses.  The City of Dallas had been attempting to realize this convention center hotel since the mid-1980s due to various public oppositions and past false starts with other development proposals. The site afforded an opportunity for the new Hotel to be a visible landmark on Dallas' memorable skyline, a significant architectural presence anchoring the southern gateway of downtown towards the Southside Lamar district, and a welcoming center of social life on the underutilized downtown area.  The architectural design is generally comprised of two components, the podium and the tower, conforming to a boomerang-shaped geometry that dynamically engages the two intersecting streets, Young and Lamar Streets, and creates an urban edge that is unique to Dallas. The podium housed all the social and convention programs of the building within the first 4 levels of the 23-story structure.  It sought to advertise the vibrancy of the interior activities to the immediate urban surroundings.  Likewise, the majority of the building envelope is clear-glazed to allow for a strong visual connection to downtown Dallas.  Strategic points of visual observations are distributed throughout the gallery/pre-function spaces of the building; among the most stunning urban spaces in Dallas, the 4th level roof deck supports the swimming pool and the outdoor bar where one can revel in the famous Dallas skyline. The tower is a 19-story, unitized curtainwall-glazed structure with rounded ends and interior corners that allows itself to be recognized from a distance, much owed to the simplicity of its form and the Dallas-blue custom glass.  Each hotel guestrooms sport full-height glazed walls along the exterior perimeter.  The rooms at the rounded ends are designed to take advantage of the 180-degree vista of the semi-circular geometry. The Hotel stands representative of the newfound city pride and optimism.  The bold architectural gestures transcend the operational programs of the convention center hotel; they introduce a new and unique identity to Dallas, one that steps up to meet the city's brand "Live Large. Think Big." Location: Dallas, Texas. Budget: US$350 million. Completion: 2011  Awards: - 2013 Regional Hispanic Contractors Association - Pillar Award-Green Project of the Year - 2013 TEXO Distinguished Building Awards - Specialty Construction Category-First Place winner - 2012 TEXO Distinguished Building Awards - Winner of Design-Build over $30m category - 2012 TEXO Distinguished Building Awards - Winner of Electrical over $10m category - 2012 TEXO Distinguished Building Awards - Winner of Mechanical over $10m category - 2012 TEXO Distinguished Building Awards - Winner of Exteriors all contract amounts - 2012 TEXO Vision Award winner - 2012 Regional Hispanic Contractors Association - Pillar Award-Project of the Year - 2010 Dallas Business Journal - Best Public/Private Partnership - 2010 ASA North Texas - Winner of Outstanding Project over $100m category - 2010 ASA North Texas - Vision Award winner

Aiming to reposition Dallas among the top convention cities in the United States, the City of Dallas commissioned a feasibility study which concluded with the imperative to build a primary convention center hotel.  The City charged the development team with the responsibility for developing a successful program, a new landmark for the City, a sustainable building, and a new beacon to signify Dallas's ...