From theater and art venues to world-class sport stadiums, Dallas has an impressive collection of architectural buildings.
CALATRAVA BRIDGES
The Trinity River Project continues to positively impact the city and the Dallas skyline. The prominent neofuturistic Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the head of the project, designed a series of two sister bridges. The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (2012) and the neighboring Margaret McDermott Bridge (2017) are already leaving their mark on Dallas.
AT&T STADIUM
One of the most expansive stadiums ever to be built, AT&T Stadium is a modern marvel located west of Dallas in the city of Arlington and the official home to the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most popular sports franchises in the world. This $1.2 billion dollar football stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the NFL (with a seating capacity of 80,000), spared no expense to create a luxurious facility. With more than 300 suites, numerous different clubs, a retractable roof that can open and close in 12 minutes, and the tallest movable glass in the world, this facility is unrivaled by any current stadium. The scoreboard, suspended 90 feet over the field, features four video boards that face out in each direction so that everyone in the stadium has an easy view of the giant 1080i HD screens. AT&T Stadium is a member of VisitDallas.
DEE AND CHARLES WYLY THEATRE
The unique compact, vertical orientation of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, climbing 12 stories into the Dallas skyline, was designed by Joshua Prince-Ramus of REX and Rem Koolhaas of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture. The theater, home to the Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, is a prime destination for music and theatre enthusiasts.
THE MARGOT AND BILL WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE
Nestled in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the WInspear Opera House is a venue of the AT&T Performing Arts Center which is hailed as the most significant performing arts center built since Lincoln Center in New York City. The Winspear Opera House, designed by Foster and Partners with Briton Spencer de Grey as chief architect, is a traditional horseshoe shape and was engineered specifically for opera and musical theater performances.
WORKS BY I.M. PEI
Downtown Dallas boasts five buildings designed by I .M. Pei, recognized as the last master of high modernist architecture. Having received the Pritzker Prize in 1983, the “Nobel Prize of Architecture,” I.M. Pei became an in-demand architect whose creations can be found around the world. Best known for being the mastermind behind the iconic Louvre in Paris, I.M. Pei’s signature architectural presence in Dallas includes the Dallas City Hall, Fountain Place, One Dallas Centre, Energy Plaza, and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, home to 11 permanent exhibit halls and various traveling exhibitions throughout the year, delivers hours of fun for children, adults and life-long learners alike. Learn the history of the building – a $185 million project designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne – in a gallery spanning its conception to present day. Catch a view of Downtown Dallas from the museum’s glass-encased elevator as you work your way up to the top floor and back down.
LATINO CULTURAL CENTER
The Latino Cultural Center serves at the regional promoter of Latino arts and culture through special events, art galleries and fun activities that aim to fuel local interest in the region. Renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta’s unique design along with the lively purple and orange exterior of this center perfectly embodies the vibrant cultures of Latin America, something is definitely worth admiring.
KALITA HUMPHREYS THEATER
The Kalita Humphreys Theater is a historic theater in Uptown designed by legendary American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Being one of Wright’s last completed creations (1959), the theater is one of Dallas’ architectural highlights and a popular performance arts venue.
THE RACHOFSKY HOUSE
The private home of Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, the fittingly named Rachofsky House is a testament to modern architecture. A 1984 Pritzker Prize Laureate, renowned abstract artist and architect, Richard Meier incorporates the surrounding landscape, keen contemporary art and geometric architectural design to create a truly spectacular must see creation. Inside, an art gallery featuring over 800 works of contemporary art further accentuates the home’s allure.