Honorable Mention, Historic
The Dallas County Records Building Complex Renovation and Addition is composed of three buildings, boasting a storied history, which includes housing Clyde Barrow’s jail cell, overlooking the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and hosting Jack Ruby’s trial.
Built from 1915 to 1955, the buildings included an abandoned jail, aging courtrooms and outdated offices, which together formed a complex puzzle of misaligned floors and interior layouts. A super-core-fill solution has fused these three separate buildings together to transform them into a modern workplace for the employees of Dallas County while maintaining the buildings’ historic significance.
With skill and a respectful approach to enhance the character, the design exposes interior elements, integrates modern and historic, and maintains a visual connection between new and old. One of the major design drivers was offering equal access to daylight to create a healthier work environment. With an older building façade with punched window openings instead of more modern ribbon windows, moving perimeter and corner offices to the core of the building became important. This solution greatly improves the amount of daylight that reaches the interior workspaces.
Additionally, the design focuses on preserving the architectural integrity of the buildings’ exterior to 1963 with expressive elements, such as restored aluminum window frames and sashes; single-pane window sashes were upgraded to insulated glass for improved efficiency and comfort. The anchoring systems for the Indiana limestone veneer were secured, and the historic terra-cotta detailing was refurbished.
Many important historic details remain. For example, a “whites only” sign once associated with a public drinking fountain was uncovered 10 years ago. The sign has been artistically interpreted as an interactive public artifact in the complex’s new lobby space.
The grandest of spaces, the lobby and second floor of the 1915 Criminal Courts Building were restored to their former glory. Layers of paint were removed from the white marble walls and the grand marble staircase. Meanwhile, intricate tile flooring and ornate plaster ceilings were restored.
Because of the buildings’ designation as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and inclusion in the Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark, the Texas Historical Commission reviewed planned changes to the buildings’ exterior.
PHOTOS: Garrett Rowland unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
Metamorphosis Award Winner and Architect: Gensler
General Contractors: 3i Contracting LLC, Manhattan Construction Group and Thos. S. Byrne Inc.
Structural Engineer: Datum Engineers Inc.
Structural Engineer (Traffic, Transportation): Walter P. Moore
Civil Engineer: RLG Consulting Engineers
MEP Engineer: MEP Consulting Engineers
Lighting Design: Lang Lighting Design Inc.
Acoustics: Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon, Williams
Materials
Roofing: Sika
Glazing: Solarban from Vitro Architectural Glass and Trulite
Ceiling: Armstrong World Industries, Hunter Douglas and Certainteed
Acoustic Ceiling: Navy Island
Fitness Flooring: Ecore
Carpet: Shaw Contract and Totally Enterprises
Wallcoverings: Designtex