Comerica Bank Tower
| Company type | Commercial office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
| Products | 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 Dallas's downtown area. Reaching a height of , it stands as the third tallest structure in Dallas and ranks sixth across Texas. On a national scale, it is positioned as the 61st tallest building within the United States. The tower, designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, was finalized in 1987 and encompasses roughly of commercial office space.
History
Initially named Momentum Place, this tower was constructed to serve as MCorp Bank’s new headquarters. The location previously hosted the Woolf Brothers and Volk Brothers department stores and was among the busiest blocks in downtown Dallas. Surrounding blocks contained notable landmarks such as the Neiman Marcus Building, Wilson Building, Titche-Goettinger Building, and Mercantile National Bank Building. The entire block stretching from Ervay to St. Paul streets was cleared to make way for the development. Johnson's preliminary concept involved multiple office buildings, a hotel, and an expansive shopping mall featuring ornate classical architecture. However, MCorp Bank opted for a more subdued office tower design without retail components, leading to a reduction in the scale of the banking hall.
Construction commenced in 1985, culminating with the tower’s opening in 1987. MCorp initially leased approximately after moving from the Mercantile National Bank Building. Shortly after completion, the building became involved in extensive legal disputes due to the economic downturn of the late 1980s and complications related to the savings and loan scandal. Following its opening, MCorp Bank failed and was absorbed by Bank One. Ownership conflicts resulted in lawsuits among developers and financiers; defaults led to foreclosure proceedings in both 1991 and 1995—the latter being the largest such event in Dallas history. Lacking a primary tenant, the property was repositioned as fully leasable class AA office space. Economic challenges made it the final high-rise completed downtown during the 1980s.
In 1997, Crescent Real Estate Equities joined forces with Trizec Properties to acquire the Bank One Center from Cigna and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for $238 million.
On December 14, 2006, Crescent 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, it selected 1717 Main Street as its new base, rebranding the tower as Comerica Bank Tower. Company leadership began moving into the building in November 2007.
TM Advertising scheduled a move into the tower on January 2, 2008, occupying four floors totaling . This relocation involved transferring 340 employees into space previously occupied by TXU Energy.
Design
- The structure adopts a classic tripartite skyscraper layout featuring setbacks on upper floors and incorporates a contemporary interpretation of a barrel vault, resulting in an overall art deco aesthetic. The tiered setbacks form a cross-shaped silhouette at the summit, while cascading glass panels extend this vaulted effect down to street level.
- The lower five floors include an expansive banking and stock exchange hall characterized by vaulted ceilings and skylights.
- A three-level underground parking facility connects with the Elm Street Garage, offering tenants access to 1,530 parking spots.
- Comerica Tower serves as an important hub within the Dallas Pedestrian Network and contains several retail units below ground level.
- On its east side lies a modest plaza outfitted with trees and seating areas facing the Titche-Goettinger Building.
- The building has drawn criticism for its somewhat unwelcoming street-level atmosphere; extensive polished granite walls coupled with dark tinted glass create an imposing facade. The west entrance plaza, located at a prominent downtown intersection, tends to isolate rather than engage pedestrian traffic. At its inauguration, MCorp chairman Gene Bishop explained that the design intentionally prioritized a banking environment over a typical office block to avoid overcrowding. In response to these concerns, a small restaurant addition was introduced on Main Street within the east plaza area in 2009.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Dallas
- List of tallest buildings in Texas
- List of tallest buildings in the United States