Republic Center
Encyclopedia
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
(USA
), 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
lines. It also contains part of the Dallas Pedestrian Network
, with shops and restaurants in the lower levels of the building and is connected to the Bullington Truck Terminal.
for the headquarters of Republic National Bank, which had previously been located at the Davis Building
. Seeking to build higher than their rival's Mercantile National Bank Building
, the Republic National Bank Building became the tallest building in Dallas
and west of the Mississippi River
at its completion in 1954. The skyscraper included an elaborate banking pavilion that stretched to Pacific Avenue. It remained the tallest building on the Dallas skyline until it was surpassed by the Southland Center in 1959.
As the bank expanded, in 1964 it sought to reclaim the tallest-in-Dallas title. The bank hired architects Harrell & Hamilton to achieve this by designing a taller companion to adjacent Republic Center I. However, height limit was restricted by the FAA. Upon completion in 1964, Republic Center Tower II was only tallest-in-Dallas on some lists. The 150 feet (46 m) spire on the original 1954 Republic Center gave that structure a 4 feet (1.2 m) edge in terms of spire height. Less than a year later, the building was surpassed by Elm Place
as the tallest building in Dallas.
Republic Center Tower III, an 8-story building with a Dallas Pedestrian Network
retail concourse below, was added in 1980. It replaced the historic 20-story Medical Arts Building which was razed in 1978. With the completion of the third phase, the Republic Center consisted of an entire city block bounded by Ervay, Bryan, St. Paul and Pacific Streets.
In 1985 RepublicBank Corp., now one of the largest banks in the Southwest, announced plans to construct a 60-story, 1400000 square feet (130,064.3 m²) building across the street on land now designated for Pacific Plaza Park
. Plans were terminated in 1987 when rival InterFirst Corp. acquired the company, and Republic Center lost most of its tenants during the ensuing savings and loan crisis
of the 1980s.
The building complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2005.
skyscraper
design. The buildings are clad in interlocking aluminum plates which incorporate Republic National Bank's four-pointed star symbol. The building was designed by architects Harrison & Abramovitz
, who in 1953 had just completed the thirty story Alcoa Building
in Pittsburgh. The design of Republic Center integrated the use of aluminum with a structural steel frame resulting in a lighter and energy efficient building.
The banking lobby featured new techniques in engineering to create a column-free lobby where upper floors had to be hung from above. The lobby was finished with exquisite marble, inlaid wood and 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) of pure gold leaf. Also incorporated within the building were innovations such as underground drive-through banking and valet parking. The elevators inside the complex speed at a rate of 1400 feet (426.7 m) a minute, making them among the fastest in the nation.
At the time of completion, the spire atop Gables Republic Tower (an abstraction of the four-pointed star and referred to as the "rocket") contained a rotating beacon of light. This was later turned off due to taller surrounding buildings, but today the spire is floodlit from below.
The following words by Karl Hoblitzelle, chairman of the board for Republic National Bank form 1945 to 1965, are set in bronze at the Ervay Street entrance:
Republic Center Tower II is 50-stories and has a roof height of 598 feet (182 m), making it the 11th-tallest building in Dallas by roof-height (the building is 12th-tallest with regards to adjacent Gables Republic Tower's spire).
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...
), adjacent to Thanks-giving Square
Thanks-Giving Square
Thanks-Giving Square is a public-private complex in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas . Originally planned as the first of several traffic-relieving complexes in downtown Dallas, it was dedicated in 1976; at the time it was the first public-private partnership of its kind in Dallas...
. The complex is located diagonally across the street from DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
's St. Paul Station, which serves its , and light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
lines. It also contains part of 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...
, with shops and restaurants in the lower levels of the building and is connected to the Bullington Truck Terminal.
History
The Republic National Bank Building (later known as Republic Center Tower I and now Gables Republic Tower) was constructed as a 36-story skyscraperSkyscraper
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...
for the headquarters of Republic National Bank, which had previously been located at the Davis Building
Davis Building
The Davis Building is a 20-story high-rise in downtown Dallas. The building rises to a height of 323 feet . Responsible for the architectural design C.D. Hill and Co. along with Inge Construction Company. It was completed,-History:...
. Seeking to build higher than their rival's Mercantile National Bank Building
Mercantile National Bank Building
The Mercantile National Bank Building is the former home of the Mercantile National Bank, later MCorp Bank, located at 1700 Main Street in downtown Dallas, Texas . It is a contributing structure in the Main Street District. The design of the skyscraper features Moderne styling from the Art Deco...
, the Republic National Bank Building became the tallest building in 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...
and 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...
at its completion in 1954. The skyscraper included an elaborate banking pavilion that stretched to Pacific Avenue. It remained the tallest building on the Dallas skyline until it was surpassed by the Southland Center in 1959.
As the bank expanded, in 1964 it sought to reclaim the tallest-in-Dallas title. The bank hired architects Harrell & Hamilton to achieve this by designing a taller companion to adjacent Republic Center I. However, height limit was restricted by the FAA. Upon completion in 1964, Republic Center Tower II was only tallest-in-Dallas on some lists. The 150 feet (46 m) spire on the original 1954 Republic Center gave that structure a 4 feet (1.2 m) edge in terms of spire height. Less than a year later, the building was surpassed by Elm Place
Elm Place
Elm Place, formerly First National Bank Tower, is a skyscraper located in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas, Texas and adjacent to DART's Akard Station. The high-rise is and 52 stories tall, making it the tenth tallest building in Dallas...
as the tallest building in Dallas.
Republic Center Tower III, an 8-story building with a 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...
retail concourse below, was added in 1980. It replaced the historic 20-story Medical Arts Building which was razed in 1978. With the completion of the third phase, the Republic Center consisted of an entire city block bounded by Ervay, Bryan, St. Paul and Pacific Streets.
In 1985 RepublicBank Corp., now one of the largest banks in the Southwest, announced plans to construct a 60-story, 1400000 square feet (130,064.3 m²) building across the street on land now designated for Pacific Plaza Park
Pacific Plaza Park
Pacific Plaza Park will be a public park located in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. The park will be located between St. Paul Street and Harwood Street, north of Pacific Avenue in the City Center District. The City of Dallas acquired the land—currently parking lots—with help from the Trust for Public...
. Plans were terminated in 1987 when rival InterFirst Corp. acquired the company, and Republic Center lost most of its tenants during the ensuing savings and loan crisis
Savings and Loan crisis
The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the failure of about 747 out of the 3,234 savings and loan associations in the United States...
of the 1980s.
The building complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2005.
Renovation
In 1997 new owners acquired the block and the complex was renovated. Republic Center Tower I was renovated in 2005 to house 229 residential units. The first units opened in January 2007 and the building's name changed to Gables Republic Tower. Republic Center Towers II & III remain active office buildings, while the old banking lobbies and ground floors are leased as office and retail space.Architecture & design
The complex is a prime example of mid century modernModern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
skyscraper
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...
design. The buildings are clad in interlocking aluminum plates which incorporate Republic National Bank's four-pointed star symbol. The building was designed by architects Harrison & Abramovitz
Harrison & Abramovitz
Harrison & Abramovitz was an American architectural firm based in New York and active from 1941 through 1976, a partnership of Wallace Harrison and Max Abramovitz....
, who in 1953 had just completed the thirty story Alcoa Building
Regional Enterprise Tower
The Regional Enterprise Tower is a skyscraper in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formerly known as the Alcoa Building. It was completed in 1953 and has 30 floors. It is the 15th tallest building in the city and is adjacent to Mellon Square...
in Pittsburgh. The design of Republic Center integrated the use of aluminum with a structural steel frame resulting in a lighter and energy efficient building.
The banking lobby featured new techniques in engineering to create a column-free lobby where upper floors had to be hung from above. The lobby was finished with exquisite marble, inlaid wood and 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) of pure gold leaf. Also incorporated within the building were innovations such as underground drive-through banking and valet parking. The elevators inside the complex speed at a rate of 1400 feet (426.7 m) a minute, making them among the fastest in the nation.
At the time of completion, the spire atop Gables Republic Tower (an abstraction of the four-pointed star and referred to as the "rocket") contained a rotating beacon of light. This was later turned off due to taller surrounding buildings, but today the spire is floodlit from below.
The following words by Karl Hoblitzelle, chairman of the board for Republic National Bank form 1945 to 1965, are set in bronze at the Ervay Street entrance:
"This building is dedicated to the principle that no institution can long endure unless it serves faithfully and unselfishly its country, its state and community."
Rank in the Dallas skyline
Gables Republic Tower is 36-stories and has a roof height of 452 feet (138 m), but when its 150 feet (46 m) spire is included, the building reaches a height of 602 feet (183 m). Currently, it is the 11th-tallest building in the city when the spire is included. Without the spire, it is the 21st-tallest.Republic Center Tower II is 50-stories and has a roof height of 598 feet (182 m), making it the 11th-tallest building in Dallas by roof-height (the building is 12th-tallest with regards to adjacent Gables Republic Tower's spire).