A striking mid-century modern office building in downtown Dallas is being converted into apartments — the latest sign of the city’s “office-for-home” boom.
Wolfe Investments, the new owner of the 187,000-square-foot tower at 211 North Ervay, aims to redevelop the bright blue building into 238 residential units while adding amenities like a fitness center and a business lounge, according to the Dallas Morning News Report.
The former Dallas mayor wanted to demolish the 26-story building, but preservationists objected, saying the 1958 structure represented a significant period in the city’s architectural history.
“The building’s facade is clad in continuous glass windows and spandrels of alternating sky blue and aquamarine porcelain,” says its Wikipedia entry. “Colorful design was a popular way of adding color to the bland mid-twentieth-century city skyline.”
Originally designed by architects Hedrick & Stanley, it is also associated with the Dallas Commercial Real Estate Who’s Who, as it was the influential developer’s fourth building in downtown Dallas Leo CorriganHe built Adolf Tower in 1954.
Dallas architects HKS were the designers for the remodel, and Andres Construction was the general contractor. President Kenny Wolfe’s Wolfe Investments said the rebuild would take 14-16 months to complete.
Office-to-residential conversions are becoming more common as demand for office space remains low due to the remote working trend sparked by the pandemic.approximately 1,500 units As a result of this conversion, deliveries in Dallas are expected within the next two years.
Last year, Woods Capital disclosed plan to reuse The 50-story Santander Tower will create 228 luxury high-rise apartments. Woods took a similar approach with the Bryan and Comerica Bank building.
Beyond that, Bluelofts aims to redevelop About 900,000 square feet Spanning the firm’s various properties in Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta and Cleveland and turning them into residences with high-end amenities and ground-floor retail and commercial space.
Wolfe’s portfolio in Dallas-Fort Worth includes a nearby apartment at 400 North Ervay, which it purchased in 2021. It also purchased the historic oil and gas building in downtown Fort Worth late last year as part of a joint venture with Bluelofts.
— Quinn Donoghue