Republic Center

Dallas Skyscrapers

Republic Center

Towers I, II & III

Gables Republic Tower (formerly Republic Tower I)

Architect: Harrison & Abramovitz (Tower I) Herrell & Hamilton (Tower II)

Republic Center Tower I is at 36 stories and Republic Center Tower II is at 50 stories. However Tower I has the spire (ornamental beacon) on top that makes the height taller than Tower II. The spire at 150-ft brings the height total to 602-ft. if included. As of early 2007 Tower I was nearing completion on conversion to residential and is now called Gables Republic Tower.

History:

Republic Center is a three phase building complex and is clad in interlocking aluminum plates to incorporate its use in creating the Republic National Bank 's silver star symbol; as designed by Harrison the architect in the initial phase building of 1954. The building is a follow-up design of the 1953 thirty story Alcoa Building in Pittsburgh, by the same architects Harrison and Abramovitz. The design for such construction was to integrate the use of aluminum with a structural steel frame for a lighter and energy efficient building.

Phase One: Republic Center Tower I was originally known as the Republic National Bank Building. The 36-story office building and banking hall pavilion was completed at Ervay, Bryan and Pacific Streets, for the headquarters of the bank. The original plans did not include the 150-foot ornamental beacon, the famous rocket spire atop the office building. To make sure it would be the city's tallest plans were then included to pass in height supremacy Mercantile Bank which also had a tower beacon on top. This addition made the total height to 602-ft. At night from the tip of the rocket spire a beam of light shined and rotated completely around over the skyline. The light was turned off in the late sixties due to higher buildings and complaints.

Phase Two: Republic Center Tower II a follow-up concept of phase one by architects Herrell and Hamilton. The 50-story office building was completed in 1964 on the St. Paul Street side and connected to phase one as part of the growth and expansion of the bank. Completed later was the underground tunnel with retail shops that eventually connected to other nearby buildings and became the center focal point of the retail underground tunnel system.

Phase Three: Republic Center Tower III, after the 20-story Medical Arts Building was razed in 1978 an 8-story building was added to the complex in 1980 and connected the southeast corner to include the entire city block bounded by Ervay, Bryan, St. Paul and Pacific Streets.

In the mid eighties the bank announced it's new headquarters the proposal of the 60-story RepublicBank Center, 781-feet high, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The skyscraper was to be constructed east across Saint Paul Street; but due to a series of bank mergers the project faded along with the fortunes of the banking company.

In 1997 new owners acquired the entire complex. A renovation project got underway for a mixed-use project and was nearing completion by the end of 2000. Tower one may be converted into loft apartments. Most of the complex will be office space with some retail in the street level floor and in the underground tunnel areas. Most obvious today is the relighting of the ornamental beacon-the rocket spire, although not a rotating beam of light but illuminated from bottom to top in a display of shifting colors.

Fact: Karl Hoblitzelle chairman of the board for Republic National Bank form 1945 to 1965, was a man of many traits. Because of his deep concern for humanity, his words are set in bronze at the Ervay Street entrance to the Republic National Bank Building now Republic Center Tower I:

THIS BUILDING IS DEDICATED TO THE PRINCIPLE

THAT NO INSTITUTION CAN LONG ENDURE

UNLESS IT SERVES FAITHFULLY AND UNSELFISHLY

ITS COUNTRY, ITS STATE AND COMMUNITY

Top view drawing.