Image courtesy of Gensler Architects
Over the decades, Energy Square added buildings of contrasting styles, resulting in incongruent structures that were difficult to traverse. A redesign from Gensler Architects and Studio Outside landscape architects will reinvent the 14-acre space at 5005 Greenville Ave.
Gensler will operate out of a LEED-Silver certified building that will be both environmentally and pedestrian friendly. The plaza at the center of the development will have street-level restaurants, cafes and a park, encouraging employees to socialize and walk through the area.
“The intent was to design a campus that would attract a large creative-type of tenant, never knowing that it would be us.” said Cindy Simpson, co-managing director of Gensler Dallas via press release. “Now we get to experience the campus, not just as a design partner, but as a tenant as well.”
On the adjacent Meadows Annex building, the rooftop graphics and operable windows will be restored, as well as an indoor/outdoor workspace that includes the balcony that wraps around the building. The square will also provide easy access to the nearby DART station at Milton and Central Expressway as well as a Zagster bike-share docking station.
“I am struck by how good a case this makes for the landmarks process. Preserving the Meadows Building in its entirety came from the community through the Landmarks Commission. But, it also required the owners to recognize the inherent value in this local landmark,” writes Katherine Seale, executive director of Preservation Dallas.
“It is this type of decision-making that enhances the viability and vitality of a city by creating opportunities out of existing assets,” Seale writes.
Gensler is excited about the ability to work in the space they are recreating. “As architects, the ability to breathe new life into a building is very meaningful to us,” said Simpson. “With The Meadows being such a significant part of the history of Dallas, we’re excited to be a part of the next chapter of its story.”
Check out some more renderings of the future of Energy Square below.
Image courtesy of Gensler Architects
Image courtesy of Gensler Architects
Image courtesy of Gensler Architects
Image courtesy of Gensler Architects
