Bank of America Plaza (Dallas)
| Company type | Commercial office skyscraper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate, Commercial office space |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
Area served | Dallas, Texas |
| Products | Office space |
| Website | www |
Bank of America Plaza stands as a 72-story late-modernist skyscraper situated in downtown Dallas, Texas, within the Main Street District. It holds the distinction of being the tallest building in Dallas, ranks third in height across Texas, and is the 45th tallest structure nationwide, providing of commercial office space.
History
The tower was conceived by JPJ Architects and developed by Bramalea Limited, headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Its initial ownership group was a partnership involving Prudential Insurance, Bramalea Limited, and First National Bank of Dallas operating under InterFirst Corporation. Construction commenced in 1983 and reached completion in 1985.
Originally called Dallas Main Center, the building has experienced multiple name changes linked to consolidations within the banking sector. It debuted as InterFirst Bank Plaza and was renamed First Republic Bank Plaza in 1986 following the merger between InterFirst and Republic Bank Corporation. After First Republic's collapse, ownership transferred to Charlotte-based North Carolina National Bank in 1988, prompting a rebranding to NCNB Plaza. In 1991, reflecting NCNB's broader national presence, it was renamed NationsBank Plaza. The current name, Bank of America Plaza, was adopted after NationsBank acquired San Francisco’s Bank of America in 1998.
Architecture
The original master plan for what was then known as Dallas Main Center included two identical 72-story towers, a hotel with 600 rooms, and an associated parking structure. The twin towers were initially designed with stepped pyramid-shaped tops and featured curtain walls combining silver-tinted glass with gold accent bands. To meet FAA regulations, the stepped pyramids were removed from the design, and the curtain wall materials were altered to blue glass complemented by grey marble detailing.
Due to the economic downturn in oil prices during the mid-1980s along with challenges in Texas’s real estate and banking industries, construction of the second tower and hotel was halted indefinitely. The area designated for the hotel remains a surface parking lot today, while the site intended for the second tower was acquired by the City of Dallas following a 2006 bond election and transformed into Belo Garden Park.
Lighting
At night, the building’s faceted exterior was originally illuminated by approximately of green argon lighting outlining its edges and corners. This distinctive illumination was designed by Theo Kondos Associates from New York and earned the skyscraper the nickname "The Pickle," chosen for its high visibility relative to red or blue lighting options. The proposed second tower was planned to feature purple lighting and was colloquially referred to as “The Eggplant.”
Soon after installation, numerous argon tubes malfunctioned due to high voltage effects such as the "corona effect," necessitating a shutdown and replacement with a "mid-point grounded" system utilizing larger 18 mm tubes. Despite these improvements, cold weather continued to impact lighting performance adversely.
In a renovation completed in 2013, the original green argon tubes were replaced with multi-colored LED lighting. By November of that year, renovation efforts were nearly finished at 90%, culminating in a re-lighting event coordinated by Innovative Lighting alongside Turner Construction.
Art
Alexander Liberman's steel sculpture Venture, measuring 38 feet in height and created in 1985, was prominently displayed in the building's front plaza until 2013. The artwork, consisting of twelve steel tubes painted red, was removed by the current proprietors to make space for a valet parking entrance and subsequently gifted to the City of Dallas. Following restoration, it found a new location near Garage C at Dallas Love Field Airport.
In 2013, coinciding with the building’s lighting upgrade, the nearby OMNI Hotel hosted the Video Association of Dallas' EXPANDED CINEMA exhibition. Dallas-based artist Michael A. Morris presented Ar City, an installation that symbolized the transition from argon to LED lighting by replicating the absent green skyline light using LEDs from the OMNI Hotel. Additionally, the OMNI has featured exhibits by artists including Mona Kasra.
Broadcast and communications center
The uppermost two floors function as a broadcast and communications hub, housing transmission facilities for networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and The CW on the 72nd floor and the rooftop at level 74. Federal law enforcement agencies also maintain operations here. Point-to-point microwave and fixed-service antennas are discreetly integrated within a glass parapet designed to facilitate installation and shield equipment from weather exposure. Access to maintenance is enabled via an opening between the 73rd-floor parapet and the data center located on the 72nd floor. The building incorporates a sophisticated distributed antenna system alongside a shared tenant data center. This infrastructure was conceptualized by James Chiles in 1985, preceding his antenna design for Renaissance Tower completed in 1986.
The structure also hosts repeater systems installed by amateur radio enthusiasts.
Floor directory
Mechanical spaces and telecommunications infrastructure supporting rooftop broadcast antennas occupy the 72nd and 73rd floors. Two balconies on the 72nd floor’s rooftop—restricted from public access—serve as storage for window cleaning equipment.
The lower level contains retail establishments and dining venues connected to the Dallas Pedestrian Network.
In popular culture
The building’s exterior was featured as the headquarters of JRE Industries in Season 11 of the 1980s television series Dallas.