211 North Ervay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 211 North Ervay |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 211 N Ervay Street Dallas, Texas (USA) |
| Coordinates | 32°46′56″N 96°47′52″W / 32.782188°N 96.797643°W |
| Opening | 1958 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Floor area | 165,000 sq ft (15,300 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hedrick & Stanley |
| Developer | Leo F. Corrigan |
211 North Ervay is a tall building, also known as a high-rise, located in the heart of Dallas, Texas, USA. You can find it at 211 North Ervay Street in the City Center District. This building stands about 250 feet (76 meters) tall and has 20 floors. It is used for offices.
The building has a colorful and modern look. It sits on an important corner in the city, right next to Thanks-Giving Square.
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Building History and Design
The 211 North Ervay building was designed by architects Hedrick and Stanley. They created it for a developer named Leo Corrigan. This was his fourth big office building in downtown Dallas.
The building was constructed on a narrow piece of land. It was about 50 feet (15 meters) wide and 200 feet (61 meters) long. Older shops used to be on this spot. Next to the building was the Palace Theater, which was part of a famous street with many theaters.
A Colorful Modern Look
The outside of the building was covered with many glass windows. It also had bright blue and green panels. This colorful design was popular in the mid-1900s. It helped add color to city skylines that might have looked plain.
The main entrance on Ervay Street was made of granite. It was set back a bit to make the sidewalk wider for shops. The second floor had beautiful mosaic designs. The building opened in 1958. It was a popular place for insurance companies, law firms, and aviation businesses.
Changes Over the Years
The building was sold a few times in the 1970s. After one sale in 1977, the inside lobby and elevators were completely updated. The outside of the first two floors also changed.
Over time, fewer businesses rented space in the building. This happened as newer, taller skyscrapers like 1700 Pacific, Thanksgiving Tower, and Comerica Bank Tower were built nearby.
Empty Building and New Plans
The building was sold again in 1986. By 1995, it was completely empty. Some people thought it looked bad. In 2004, the Mayor of Dallas, Laura Miller, wanted to tear it down to make a park.
However, a group called Preservation Dallas stepped in. They added 211 North Ervay to their list of Dallas's most endangered historic places. They said it was important because it was part of the Dallas Downtown Historic District. It was also a great example of the "cool blue" buildings from the 1950s that were disappearing.
In 2005, a company called 3J Development bought the building. They planned to turn it into apartments. This plan would have changed the outside and removed the blue panels. But the renovation was stopped in 2007.
In 2009, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert pointed out that the building had some safety issues. This led to the ground floor being cleaned up and safety systems being updated.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
After other plans failed, people again talked about tearing down the building in 2012. But then, developer and investor Mike Sarimsakci bought the building in December 2012. He started working to bring it back to life.
Sarimsakci's company, Alto / Alterra, worked hard to redevelop the building. Many new companies were interested in moving in. A Dallas nonprofit group called Linking the World moved into the building. Shops, a restaurant, and a coffee shop also planned to open on the ground floor. Sarimsakci himself planned to have his offices and living space on the top floor.
Mike Sarimsakci said that the building's central location in downtown Dallas attracted many new and creative companies. These included tech startups, law firms, media companies, and nonprofits. He called the building an "entrepreneurial hub" and a "high-tech mecca" for downtown Dallas.
Sarimsakci believes this project is a good investment for Dallas's economy. He said they didn't just fix up the building; they "brought it back to life in a very positive way." He added that the new businesses are creating new technologies, jobs, and companies.
In May 2014, a top business accelerator called Tech Wildcatters announced it would rent a large space in the Ervay building. This was a big step in bringing this historic Dallas building back to life. In September 2014, Fort Work, a coworking space, also announced it would move into the building.
