| Statler Hilton Hotel | |
|---|---|
| Statler-Hilton-Block-Panora.jpg Dallas Statler Hilton and adjacent old Dallas Public Library building in 2009. |
|
| General information | |
| Type | Vacant |
| Location | 1914 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Coordinates | |
| Completed | 1956 |
| Cost | $16 million |
| Height | |
| Roof | 234 ft (71 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William B. Tabler |
The former Dallas Statler Hilton is an iconic building of mid-twentieth century design located at 1914 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas, Texas (USA). It is located on the edge of the Farmers Market District and adjacent to Main Street Garden Park. The hotel was praised as the first modern American hotel and was designed by William B. Tabler. Later renamed the Dallas Grand Hotel, it has remained vacant since 2001.
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Designed as the flagship for the new Statler Hilton chain, the hotel was completed in 1956 at a cost of $16 million. It was the first major hotel built in Dallas in nearly three decades and the largest convention facility in the South. Opening day included luminaries from both coasts converging on Dallas for a four-day celebration.
Architect William B. Tabler introduced several new construction techniques and materials. The first full application of its kind, a cantilevered reinforced flat-slab system reduced the number of columns needed and created a soaring building.[1] Tabler was also one of the first in the country to use a thin-skinned curtain wall design consisting of 1 3/8" panels made of glass and colored porcelain coated metal. Its innovative features made it a significant contributor to the Modern movement in Dallas, and for the state of Texas.[2]
The Y-shaped building contained 1,001 guest rooms over 20 floors and a ballroom capable of hosting 2,200 people. The room count was reduced to 710 after numerous renovations.
The hotel itself was proclaimed “the last word in hostelries.” [3] The Statler Hilton boasted many firsts for the hotel industry such as elevator music and custom 21" Westinghouse TVs in every room. It was one of the first hotels to have its ballroom and conference rooms located on lower floors, and a heliport was located on the roof to shuttle guests from nearby airports.
The outdoor patio located above street level along St. Paul Street contained a large rotating sculpture by José de Rivera. "A Wishing Star," 12 feet high and 15 feet across, was made of triangulated arms whose undersides were stainless steel and top goldplated.[4]
The Statler played an important role establishing Dallas as a business center for the Southwest. It was the largest hotel in the Southwest, and helped attract convention business to Dallas for many years. According to Dallas’ AIA Guide to Dallas, the Statler and next door’s former Dallas Public Library, designed by George Dahl in 1953, make-up the “best block of 1950s architecture in the city.” [5]
In 1988, Hilton Hotels sold the property to Hong Kong investors who re-named it the Dallas Grand Hotel. Its final closure came in 2001.
Over the years interior renovations have erased many of the original design elements, although staircases are still in their original configuration. The exterior has essentially remained unchanged over the years.
The building's rehabilitation has been hampered by a number of structural problems, notably water damage and vandalism on some of the floors. However, many of the floors and hotel rooms have remained untouched since 2001. Ironically, the flat-slab structural system that was so innovative in the 1950s now limits ceiling height to 8 feet and adds challenges to any renovation. The building also contains a large amount of asbestos.
The lack of adequate parking is also a challenge to redevelopment, although there are several nearby large parking garages. Main Street Garden Park might have included underground parking had there been a private developer interested before construction began in 2008.[6]
Recent residential conversions and redevelopment initiatives by the City of Dallas have helped rejuvenate many of the nearby vacant structures. Main Street Garden Park, located in front of the Statler Hilton, replaces many unsightly parking structures and is a gathering place for residents, office workers and students of the nearby Universities Center at Dallas.
Preservation Dallas included the structure in both its 2007 and 2008 Most Endangered lists and has campaigned for preservation of the landmark hotel.[5] In 2008 the National Trust for Historic Preservation included the Statler Hilton on its 2008 list of "America's Most Endangered Places," citing its importance in American mid-century design.[2]
In June 2009 AIA Dallas announced a competition for a temporary installation to provide pleasing views to Main Street Garden Park patrons while the building remains empty. In late 2009 the building's lower levels were covered in opaque plastic and lit from behind, giving the building a lantern-like appearance.[7]
On March 1, 2011 it was reported that the Statler Hilton building and the adjoining library had been sold to a developer, Leobardo Trevino, who intends to restore it. "Right now," he said, "the plans are to clean it up and restore the exterior and make it nice. We'll gut it and take it down to the concrete...But our plans are to restore it to the original and make it look like it did in 1956. We love the property."[8] The development group is also restoring 1600 Pacific Tower in downtown Dallas.