Republic Center Dallas, TX
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Republic Center is a multi-phased complex that stands today as a very significant piece of Dallas history. By maintaining continuity of form and materials, the beautifully scaled facility has grown into a strong massing of buildings and continues to be a dominant landmark structure on the Dallas skyline.
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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.
- 52 Stories
- 1.7 M SF Bank and Office Space
- 58 Years Old
- 4 Phases
The first phase of Republic Center was completed in 1954 as the headquarters for Republic National Bank. It was the first large-scale office building completed after World War II in Downtown Dallas and instantly became a city landmark. This phase consisted of a 36-story tower and an 8-story annex, embellished by a neon rocket at its roof, and a second floor banking lobby. The building was designed by Harrison & Abramovitz of New York City. Gill & Harrell's firm at the time, was the local architect of record. Harrison and Abramovitz was a notable architecture firm of the time having had design roles at the United Nations Headquarters and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Their design for the Alcoa Building in Pittsburgh was designed the same year and also included a panelized curtainwall system of stamped aluminum.
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Ahead of Its Time
Also incorporated within the building were innovations such as underground drive-through banking and valet parking. The elevators inside the complex traveled at a rate of 1,400 feet a minute, making them among the fastest in the nation. The roof top "rocket" was lit with neon and was capped by a rotation beacon light. The banking lobby featured innovative techniques in engineering to create a column-free lobby where upper floors were hung from above. The lobby was finished with exquisite marble, inlaid wood and 3,000 square feet of pure gold leaf on the mezzanine rail.
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Tallest Building West of the Mississippi River
With the rooftop spire, the building became the tallest building west of the Mississippi River at its completion in 1954. In 1959, it was surpassed by Southland Center (now the Sheraton Hotel).
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Then There Were Two
In 1963, George Harrell’s new firm, Harrell & Hamilton designed a 52-story tower adjacent to the first tower in an effort to recapture the title of tallest building in Dallas. That title was held for less than a year when the building was eclipsed by the nearby First National Bank Tower (now Elm Place).
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By 1980, Harrell & Hamilton had become OMNIPLAN, and finished a new eight-story expansion of the complex on the site of the former historic Medical Arts Tower. OMNIPLAN’s offices were located on various floors of the Republic Bank complex from its founding in 1956 until 1984. Following the failure of the bank in the 1980s the building was repurposed for residential use and office space. In 2005, the Republic Bank complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Recognition
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![25 Year Award for Design Excellence]()
25 Year Award for Design Excellence American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter -
![1981 Citation Award]()
1981 Citation Award American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter -
![Architectural Landmark Award]()
Architectural Landmark Award Texas Society of Architects
