Elm Place
Encyclopedia
Elm Place, formerly First National Bank Tower, is a skyscraper
located in the Main Street District of downtown
Dallas
, Texas
(USA
) and adjacent to DART's Akard Station. The high-rise is 625 feet (191 m) and 52 stories tall, making it the tenth tallest building in Dallas. In January 2010 the building was closed due to low occupancy rates.
and Thomas E. Stanly, built to replace First National's home on Main Street. It originally was proposed to be 96 feet (29.3 m) higher, but was scaled back after determining it would be a hazard to flights leaving Dallas Love Field. By choosing a site with lower elevation, the tower, even with a modified height, was still taller than rival bank's Republic Center
. The 2 acre (0.809372 ha) block of land previously contained First National's motor bank, which was demolished for the new structure. The exterior, featuring a dark and light contrasting theme, was clad in more than 8 acres (3.2 ha) of dark gray glass and white marble imported from Greece. The building's construction began in 1961 and used more than 25,000 tons of steel. At the time of opening in 1965, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River
, until surpassed by 555 California Street in San Francisco
in 1969. It was the tallest in Texas until 1971, when One Shell Plaza
in Houston
took the title. In 1974, Renaissance Tower
became the tallest in Dallas.
The 225 feet (68.6 m) tower that rises out of this base was placed off center and is a modified hexagon, with four of the sides only slightly angled [end walls are 75 feet (22.9 m) wide with a midpoint width of 95 feet (29 m)]. Floors 11-49 were general lease space not used by First National Bank. The white columns running up the tower contain Plexiglas mullions that house fluorescent lights, which were once turned on every night. The Observation Terrace on the 50th floor contained the world's highest escalator from the 49th floor.
At ground level the building features a long pedestrian arcade flanked by retail space connected Elm Street and Pacific Street, and the building was later connected to the Dallas Pedestrian Network
when the adjacent Renaissance Tower
was opened in 1974. An 800-space garage was located on the lower two levels, and was the largest single parking facility in Dallas at the time.
During following years the bank continued to grow and under InterFirst Corp. built Renaissance Tower
and Bank of America Plaza
. After a series of mergers it become part of Bank of America
, and as most banking operations vacated the structure the name was changed to Elm Place. Under a special agreement, the bank owned the bottom 10 floors, while the lobby and upper 42 floors had a separate owner. The lower floors of the building were foreclosed on in early 2009; the tower portion of the building closed in late January 2010 due to low occupancy rates. In May 2010 the building was put up for sale for $19 million.
The 13860 sq ft (1,287.6 m²) main banking floor, located on the 4th floor, was 2 stories in height and contained the vaults and 50 teller stations. Two motor banks served customers: a "walk-up" bank on Elm Street for pedestrians and a "drive-in" bank on Pacific Street.
The second floor contained the "Money Tree," a 20 feet (6.1 m) mural designed by Alma Shon made of 8,500 coins and carved wood.
The ninth floor, the first floor of the tower, housed the bank's top executives, lounge areas and dining room. It was surrounded by an extensive rooftop garden, heavily landscaped and filled with sculptures and fountains. The 8th floor contained the Dallas Room, a 300-seat auditorium.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
located in the Main Street District of downtown
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) and adjacent to DART's Akard Station. The high-rise is 625 feet (191 m) and 52 stories tall, making it the tenth tallest building in Dallas. In January 2010 the building was closed due to low occupancy rates.
History
The $35 million skyscraper was designed for the First National Bank of Dallas by architects George DahlGeorge Dahl
George Leighton Dahl was a prominent American architect based in Dallas, Texas during the 20th century. His most notable contributions include the Art Deco structures of Fair Park while he oversaw planning and construction of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition.-Background:George Dahl was born in...
and Thomas E. Stanly, built to replace First National's home on Main Street. It originally was proposed to be 96 feet (29.3 m) higher, but was scaled back after determining it would be a hazard to flights leaving Dallas Love Field. By choosing a site with lower elevation, the tower, even with a modified height, was still taller than rival bank's Republic Center
Republic Center
Republic Center is a mixed-use complex at 300 N. Ervay Street and 325 N. St. Paul Street in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas , adjacent to Thanks-giving Square. The complex is located diagonally across the street from DART's St. Paul Station, which serves its , and light rail...
. The 2 acre (0.809372 ha) block of land previously contained First National's motor bank, which was demolished for the new structure. The exterior, featuring a dark and light contrasting theme, was clad in more than 8 acres (3.2 ha) of dark gray glass and white marble imported from Greece. The building's construction began in 1961 and used more than 25,000 tons of steel. At the time of opening in 1965, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, until surpassed by 555 California Street in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1969. It was the tallest in Texas until 1971, when One Shell Plaza
One Shell Plaza
One Shell Plaza is a 50 floor skyscraper at 910 Louisiana Street in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. At its completion in 1971, One Shell Plaza was the tallest building in Houston, Texas, standing 715 feet tall. Including the antenna tower on its top, the height is 1,000 feet .One Shell...
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
took the title. In 1974, Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower is a , 56-story modernist skyscraper located at 1201 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, Texas. The tower is the second tallest in the city, the fifth tallest in Texas, and the 24th tallest in the United States...
became the tallest in Dallas.
The 225 feet (68.6 m) tower that rises out of this base was placed off center and is a modified hexagon, with four of the sides only slightly angled [end walls are 75 feet (22.9 m) wide with a midpoint width of 95 feet (29 m)]. Floors 11-49 were general lease space not used by First National Bank. The white columns running up the tower contain Plexiglas mullions that house fluorescent lights, which were once turned on every night. The Observation Terrace on the 50th floor contained the world's highest escalator from the 49th floor.
At ground level the building features a long pedestrian arcade flanked by retail space connected Elm Street and Pacific Street, and the building was later connected to the Dallas Pedestrian Network
Dallas Pedestrian Network
The Dallas Pedestrian Network is a system of grade-separated walkways covering thirty-six city blocks of downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. The system connects buildings, garages and parks through underground tunnels and above-ground skybridges...
when the adjacent Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower is a , 56-story modernist skyscraper located at 1201 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, Texas. The tower is the second tallest in the city, the fifth tallest in Texas, and the 24th tallest in the United States...
was opened in 1974. An 800-space garage was located on the lower two levels, and was the largest single parking facility in Dallas at the time.
During following years the bank continued to grow and under InterFirst Corp. built Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower
Renaissance Tower is a , 56-story modernist skyscraper located at 1201 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, Texas. The tower is the second tallest in the city, the fifth tallest in Texas, and the 24th tallest in the United States...
and Bank of America Plaza
Bank of America Plaza (Dallas)
Bank of America Plaza is a 72-story late-modernist skyscraper located in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas. Standing at a structural height of , it is the tallest skyscraper in the city of Dallas. It is also the 3rd tallest in Texas and the 22nd tallest in the United States, while...
. After a series of mergers it become part of Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, and as most banking operations vacated the structure the name was changed to Elm Place. Under a special agreement, the bank owned the bottom 10 floors, while the lobby and upper 42 floors had a separate owner. The lower floors of the building were foreclosed on in early 2009; the tower portion of the building closed in late January 2010 due to low occupancy rates. In May 2010 the building was put up for sale for $19 million.
Banking facilities
The building's eight story base, which contained the banking and operational function for First National Bank, covered the entire block and featured a continuous set of 48 feet (14.6 m) marble arches on all sides of the building. The lower five floors of the base were recessed 10 feet (3 m) to provide large walkways around the building. The floors above the arches (6,7 and 8) do not have any windows and are covered in marble.The 13860 sq ft (1,287.6 m²) main banking floor, located on the 4th floor, was 2 stories in height and contained the vaults and 50 teller stations. Two motor banks served customers: a "walk-up" bank on Elm Street for pedestrians and a "drive-in" bank on Pacific Street.
The second floor contained the "Money Tree," a 20 feet (6.1 m) mural designed by Alma Shon made of 8,500 coins and carved wood.
The ninth floor, the first floor of the tower, housed the bank's top executives, lounge areas and dining room. It was surrounded by an extensive rooftop garden, heavily landscaped and filled with sculptures and fountains. The 8th floor contained the Dallas Room, a 300-seat auditorium.