Unique in Flavor and Design
A primary focus for the design team was creating a sense of commonality throughout the vendor spaces, which are all established, local Dallas concepts, while giving stalls the flexibility to showcase their own personal brands. The design approach was to create the feeling of one unified place, in addition to creating a fun balance and mix-and-match character formed by a variety of cuisines in close proximity to each other.
Rather than turn over the interior fit-out of the vendor spaces to outside designers, The Johnson Studio held visioning charrettes with each entrepreneur to better understand the desired look and feel of his or her stall. The Johnson Studio worked in-tandem with vendors to create a unique, yet cohesive look on the exterior of each stall, aligning with the vision and aesthetic of the individual owners. Each stall is designed to reflect the distinct brand identities and culinary offerings of each vendor while remaining adaptable enough to accommodate the next tenant to occupy the space in the future.
The Exchange’s roster of offerings includes Mexican, Southern, Mediterranean, desserts, breakfast foods, noodles, burgers and pizza, plus a revolving concept for a guest chef. The façade design for each stall reflects the distinct offerings and personality of each concept while incorporating consistent materials and colors throughout the collective.
Bridging the Indoor and Outdoor
The design of the culinary collective prioritizes a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing foodies to seek solace in the high-design interior environment while leveraging the open-air terraces and ground-level operable glass garage doors to enjoy some fresh air during the workday.
Gensler, which led the exterior architecture of The Exchange, reoriented the existing building to complement the Discovery District’s Central Plaza and public greenspace. On the ground floor, garage doors open directly onto the greenspace, facilitating the free flow of people in and out of the food hall. The design team implemented six entryways throughout the building for ease of entry and exit, and outdoor lockers for hot and cold foods offer guests and delivery drivers a quick takeout experience.
For foodies wanting to stay a bit longer and immerse themselves in the space, the outdoor terraces on the first and second floors overlook the Central Plaza and offer open-air seating and expansive views of the district.
Aligning with AT&T’s vision to reconstruct its headquarters to best serve its employees and the local Dallas community, The Johnson Studio designed The Exchange to foster the same exchange of ideas, collaboration and expression the building was originally designed to provide. Although the literal exchange boards that facilitated communication between person to person are no longer present, AT&T’s legacy remains evident in the way visitors are able to connect on a deeper level in a space designed just for that purpose.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL STAVARIDIS unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
Architects: Cooper Carry, in partnership with Gensler (exterior build and branding) and The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry (interiors)
General Contractor: The Beck Group
Food Service Consultant: Davella Studios
MEP Engineer: DFW Consulting Group Inc.
Structural Engineer: JQ
Ornamental Metal Installer: QMF Steel Inc.
Woodwork: Facility Construction Services Inc.
Materials
Architectural Brick: S. Anselmo
Porcelain Tile: Nemo Tile + Stone
Decorative Glass: Bendheim
Air Curtain: Berner International
Hydraulic Overhead Doors: Power Lift Doors
Metal Ceiling Tile: Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions
Specialty Paint/Plaster: ClayLime
Solid Surface: Corian
Vinyl Wallcovering: Glamora
Acoustical Wood Veneer Ceilings: Navy Island
Custom Lighting: Lamberts & Fils
Wood Flooring: Havwoods
Paint: Sherwin-Williams
Ornamental Metal: Tableaux and Chemetal
Sealed Concrete: Prosoco
Beverage Dispensers: Chill Rite