Due to the new trend of fashionable skyscrapers built downtown by the mid-1980s, this plain glass box skyscraper had a redesign by architects Skidmore Owings & Merrill, a major makeover that lasted from 1986-87.  Changes on the exterior included the first four levels.  Instead of all glass, it is now a base in design of latticework made of blue-pearl granite with freestanding stone portals. The glass curtain wall was changed to four different shades of color for creating a pattern. The darker shades of glass retrace the vertical steel columns and X bracing.  But most obvious was the framework of the glitzy crown addition atop the building.  The communications tower complex addition consists of a stepped back platform of three sections, about six stories in height and five pyramidal steel towers.  The taller steel tower which is anchored to the upper section of the stepped back platform, occupies the center area of the roof.  The four smaller towers are positioned one at near each corner of the rooftop and each are connected with more steel framework forming a corral.  The addition of the communications towers atop the building made the building's height, 886 feet to the tip of the central tower.  Therefore, the building became the second tallest skyscraper after the now called Bank of America Plaza.

The building also had major interior changes to the lobby areas; one highlighted feature includes the classical two story rotunda overlooking the lower lobby and underground walkway system.  At street level near the southwest corner of the site replacing the old drive-in bank, stands an eight -story glass pyramid (Crystal Court) that encloses an underground food court and patio, allowing connection to the building via the retail underground tunnel network.  

Continuing the building's trademark tradition with additional illumination at night are the steel towers atop the building to give it a candle light glow effect along with the figure of the double X bracing on each side of the building.  As a result of the major make over the building is a striking feature to the Dallas Skyline and takes its name appropriately as "Renaissance Tower".