Republic Center facts for kids
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Republic National Bank
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Republic Tower I in 2007
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 Republic National Bank
Location in Texas
Republic National Bank
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 N. Ervay St./325 N. St. Paul St., Dallas, Texas |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1954 |
| Architect | Harrison and Abramovitz, et al. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Skyscraper |
| Part of | Dallas Downtown Historic District (ID04000894) |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000243 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 31, 2005 |
| Designated CP | August 11, 2006 |
Republic Center is a group of buildings in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. It's a "mixed-use" complex, meaning it has different kinds of spaces like offices, shops, and homes. You can find it near Thanks-Giving Square.
The complex is also very easy to reach by public transport. It's right across the street from DART's St. Paul Station. This station serves several light rail lines. Republic Center is also part of the Dallas Pedestrian Network, which is a system of underground walkways. These walkways connect buildings in downtown Dallas, making it easy to get around and find shops or restaurants.
Contents
How Republic Center Grew Over Time
The main building, first called the Republic National Bank Building, was finished in 1954. It was built to be the main office for Republic National Bank. This building is now known as Gables Republic Tower. When it was completed, it was the tallest building in Dallas and even west of the Mississippi River! It had a large banking area that reached all the way to Pacific Avenue.
The Race to Build the Tallest Building
Republic National Bank wanted to build a taller building than their rivals. So, in 1954, their first tower became the tallest in Dallas. But it didn't stay the tallest for long. By 1959, another building called the Southland Center became taller.
In 1964, the bank tried to get the "tallest in Dallas" title back. They planned a taller building next to the first one. This new building was called Republic Center Tower II. However, there were rules from the FAA about how tall buildings could be. Because of this, Tower II was only the tallest on some lists. The first tower, Republic Center I, actually had a 150-foot (46 m) spire on top, which made it slightly taller overall. Less than a year later, another building called Elm Place became the tallest in Dallas.
In 1980, Republic Center Tower III was added. This was an 8-story building that replaced an older building. It also included more shops and connections to the Dallas Pedestrian Network. With this third tower, Republic Center took up a whole city block!
In the mid-1980s, the bank planned an even bigger, 60-story building. But these plans were stopped when another bank bought RepublicBank Corp. After this, many businesses moved out of Republic Center.
The entire complex was recognized as an important historical place in 2005. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern Updates and Changes
In 1997, new owners bought the Republic Center buildings and decided to update them. In 2005, Republic Center Tower I was changed into homes. It now has 229 apartments and is called Gables Republic Tower. The first residents moved in during 2007.
Towers II and III are still used as office buildings. The old banking areas and ground floors are now rented out for offices and shops.
What Makes Republic Center Special?
The Republic Center buildings are great examples of modern architecture from the middle of the 20th century. The outside of the buildings is covered with special aluminum plates. These plates have the Republic National Bank's four-pointed star symbol built into them.
The buildings were designed by famous architects named Harrison & Abramovitz. They had just finished another important aluminum building in Pittsburgh. The design of Republic Center used aluminum with a steel frame. This made the building lighter and more energy-efficient.
Cool Features Inside
The main banking area was designed in a very clever way. It had no columns holding up the ceiling, which was very new for the time! The upper floors were actually hung from above. This area was decorated with beautiful marble, wood, and even 3,000 square feet (280 m2) of pure gold leaf.
The building also had new ideas like drive-through banking underground and valet parking. The elevators inside the complex are super fast, moving at 1,400 feet (430 m) per minute! This made them some of the fastest in the country.
The spire on top of Gables Republic Tower was shaped like a four-pointed star, and people called it the "rocket." When it was first built, it had a light that spun around. This light was later turned off because other taller buildings were built nearby. Today, the spire is lit up from below.
At the Ervay Street entrance, there's a bronze plaque with words from Karl Hoblitzelle. He was the chairman of Republic National Bank for many years. His words say:
"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."
How Tall Are the Towers?
Gables Republic Tower (Tower I) has 36 stories. Its roof is 452 feet (138 m) tall. But if you include its 150-foot (46 m) spire, the building reaches 602 feet (183 m). With the spire, it's currently the 11th-tallest building in Dallas. Without the spire, it's the 21st-tallest.
Republic Center Tower II has 50 stories. Its roof is 598 feet (182 m) tall. This makes it the 11th-tallest building in Dallas based on roof height.
Gallery
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South view on St. Paul Street
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Southeast View
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Republic Center II and Elm Place both under construction
