Chase Center (Dallas)
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
| Products | Commercial office space |
Comerica Bank Tower—previously known as Momentum Place, Bank One Center, and Chase Center—is a 60-story postmodern high-rise situated at 1717 Main Street in the heart of downtown Dallas, Texas. With a height of , it stands as the third tallest structure in Dallas and ranks sixth across Texas. As of July 2018, it holds the position of the 61st tallest building in the United States. The tower, completed in 1987, was designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and encompasses roughly of commercial office space.
History
Initially named Momentum Place, this skyscraper was constructed to serve as the headquarters for MCorp Bank. The development site included the former Woolf Brothers and Volk Brothers department stores, located on one of downtown Dallas’s busiest blocks near landmarks such as Neiman Marcus, Wilson, Titche-Goettinger, and Mercantile National Bank buildings. To accommodate the new tower, the entire block between Ervay and St. Paul streets was cleared. Philip Johnson’s original vision incorporated several office buildings, a hotel, and an expansive shopping mall with elaborate classical detailing; however, MCorp Bank opted for a more understated office tower without retail components, resulting in a simplified banking hall design.
Construction commenced in 1985, with the building opening its doors in 1987. At that time, MCorp leased approximately 600,000 square feet after moving from the Mercantile National Bank Building. Shortly after completion, the tower became one of Dallas’s most litigated properties due to the economic downturn of the late 1980s coupled with the savings and loan crisis. Following MCorp Bank’s failure and subsequent dissolution by Bank One, ownership conflicts and loan defaults culminated in foreclosure proceedings in both 1991 and 1995—marking the two largest foreclosures in Dallas history. Lacking a primary tenant, the building was repositioned as fully leasable Class AA office space. This project represented the final high-rise completed downtown during the economically challenging 1980s.
In 1997, Crescent Real Estate Equities joined forces with Trizec Properties to acquire Bank One Center from Cigna and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for $238 million.
On December 14, 2006, Crescent Real Estate sold the property to Metropolitan Real Estate Developers based in Los Angeles for $216 million.
On March 6, 2007, Comerica announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Dallas. By August of that year, Comerica chose 1717 Main Street for its new headquarters and subsequently renamed the building Comerica Bank Tower. Beginning November 2007, company executives started occupying five floors totaling 164,000 square feet.
Advertising agency TM Advertising arranged to move into four floors covering 130,000 square feet starting January 2, 2008, relocating approximately 340 employees into space previously leased by TXU Energy.
Design
- The skyscraper exhibits a classic tripartite form with upper-level setbacks combined with a modern interpretation of a barrel vault motif, culminating in an overall Art Deco-inspired aesthetic. The setbacks create a cross-shaped silhouette at the summit, while cascading glass panels enhance the vaulted effect down to street level.
- The lower five floors contain an expansive banking and stock exchange hall distinguished by a vaulted ceiling topped with a skylight.
- A three-level underground parking facility connects directly to the Elm Street Garage, offering tenants access to 1,530 parking spaces.
- Comerica Tower functions as an important node within the Dallas Pedestrian Network and features several subterranean retail outlets.
- On its east side lies a modest plaza furnished with trees and seating areas facing the Titche-Goettinger Building.
- The building has attracted criticism for presenting an unwelcoming street-level atmosphere. Its sparse retail frontage combined with extensive polished granite surfaces and dark tinted glass produces an imposing presence. The west entrance plaza at a prominent downtown corner tends to isolate rather than invite pedestrian interaction. At opening, MCorp chairman Gene Bishop explained that the design prioritized creating "a banking building, not an office building," favoring a solid exterior over crowd-pleasing features. In 2009, a small restaurant addition was introduced along Main Street within the east plaza to enhance engagement with pedestrians.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Dallas
- List of tallest buildings in Texas
- List of tallest buildings in the United States