Dallas is home to a mixture of architectural styles that includes post-modern, Beaux Arts, Gothic Revival, and Romanesque. Whether you’re driving around the city or biking through downtown, here’s a list of the most impressive buildings in Dallas that will have you saying, “Whoa.”
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Building, Science Museum, Natural History Museum
Thom Mayne, a winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate designed the astoundingly beautiful Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The building is cube-shaped with the idea of bringing together the building and the environment. It’s a prime example of sustainability with a full acre of a green-landscaped roof that hosts native grasses and plants that will thrive in the Texas climate over time. The 150-foot (45.72 meters) glass-enclosed escalator that extends outside of the building is one of its most notable aspects.
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The Chase Tower is a 55-story skyscraper and office building in downtown Dallas with an impressive exterior. Completed in 1987, the building has an opening that sits between the 43rd and 50th stories. The window is 27 feet wide, and is right above what is known as the Sky Lobby, a spot where visitors can enjoy unsurpassed views of the Dallas Arts District. The barrel-style glass roof of the Chase Tower stands out among other skyscrapers, as does the Rotunda, a post-modern dome that sits right in front of the tower and is a corporate fitness facility for the Chase Tower.
Bank of America Plaza holds a lot of bragging rights. At 72 stories tall, it’s the tallest skyscraper in Dallas and the third tallest in Texas. The clean lines, reflective surface, and great views from the top floors make it even more appealing. However, it’s the fact that the building lights up every night in LED green light, that makes the Bank of America Plaza one of the most beloved buildings in Dallas. Though the light changes at times to blue or purple, for Dallas locals and visitors, the “green building” is always a beacon of light.
At 561 feet (170 meters) tall, the Reunion Tower is an observation tower with 360-degree views of the city of Dallas. The observation deck level features interactive and digital experiences, including information about Dallas history, the Reunion Tower itself, and more, and there are also numerous telescopes to get a close-up view of the skyline. Pop into the Cloud Nine Café for a snack or refreshing drink or eat at Five Sixty, a Wolfgang Puck fine dining restaurant located on the top, rotating floor. Eat a delicious gourmet meal while enjoying incredible views that overlook the city. The tower is also connected to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, so it’s perfect for visitors who want to stay close by to this Dallas attraction.
For a state that seems to have a church on every corner, the Cathedral Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe is pretty impressive among the building landscape of Dallas. Set in downtown Dallas, Cathedral Guadalupe (as it’s also referred to), dates to 1902 and features a High Victorian Gothic designed by Nicholas J. Clayton. Today, the cathedral is the second busiest Catholic church in the U.S.
In Dallas, there is a place called Thanks-Giving Square, and it can help give you some perspective on life and its woes. It contains a walk with prompts that help people realize how blessed they are. It’s shaded and pretty, with a gorgeous mural on the wall with scripture. Up the stairs and across a bridge is a white marble spiral-shaped, non-denominational chapel that draws the eye. It’s only 58 feet (17.6 meters) tall and features a cubic altar made of Carrara marble. Inside, the Glory Window, a 67-panel, stained glass helix ceiling, is just as impressive as the exterior of the building.
Fountain Place is a tranquil destination to meet during the day and a romantic place to talk in the evening. It’s located in the Arts District of Dallas and features a tower shaped like a rocket with a green glass exterior and 172 bubbler fountains and a central grand fountain. The tower is 60 stories high and has been under construction for the last few years to update the interior, a renovation that will continue through 2018. With trees surrounded by water, you could stroll through the fountains and watch the water or find a nice place to sit and write with the sounds of moving water in the air. With many places to eat nearby, it’s a prime location for like-minded guests to talk about everything while the sun goes down, and then watch as the water is illuminated by nightfall.
