The 1980s. A time of glitz, glamour and gold. When Labora Real Estate bought the ‘80s-era office building at 400 S. Record Street in Dallas, they wanted to recapture some of that glamour, but now as part of an updated, modern, amenity-rich workplace.
project
400 S Record
Thanks to a significant reconstruction and repositioning effort, the 17-floor, 348,000sf building now features a new glass-walled, two-story lobby with an outdoor canopy, a fitness center, a conference center, renovated office space, abundant artwork, a rooftop terrace and an elegant new restaurant run by Michelin-starred chef Bruno Davaillon.
Designed by Gensler, the ground level features an aluminum canopy that extends overhead from the main entrance to the sidewalk and street, drawing the eye to front of the building and creating an elegance that matches that of neighbors like the Omni Dallas Hotel. But perhaps the most striking feature of the lower levels is the restaurant. Raised on columns above ground level but beneath the canopy, the curvy, rectangular structure is covered in gold-hued scales, making it shimmer as the light changes. The Structure Tone Southwest team had to coordinate very closely with the designers and subcontractors to ensure the shingles and glass vestibule below the structure fit the unique curved profile.
Coordinating many moving parts was also essential for the renovations at the top of the building. The original building had an all-glass ceiling on one side of the top floor. The design called for removing that ceiling and replacing the area with a sky garden for tenants to take in the amazing views of the city. In addition, one of the upper floors has a two-story shadowbox-type of outcropping that, again, provides breathtaking views of the city. Both features involved reconstructing the building’s exterior—at dizzying heights.
Getting materials up to those heights—and finding a place to store them—was also a challenge. Our team used a crane with a weight capacity of 550 tons to lift all the structural materials to the upper levels, and then added a work platform extending almost six feet from the edge of the building to work on the 17th floor terrace canopy.
© Kevin Bowens
COMPANY
Architect
Gensler
Client
City Electric Supply/Labora Real Estate
Location
400 S Record Dallas, TX
SF
348,000sf / 17 floors
architect
Gensler
Engineer
BDD
contract type
CM