Comments on: What is the Ugliest Building in Dallas?

By: JeremyL

JeremyL — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:41:36 +0000

I think that the Sheraton hotel is the absolute ugliest building downtown. It’s old, and HUGE. If it weren’t so big, it wouldn’t be so bad!

The old Statler hotel that some people are saying is ugly is actually pretty neat. It’s design reflects that of the BRAND NEW element building which you can see from the Statler. If someone bought it and renovated it, that portion of downtown would help to be revitalized. (Especially with the new UNT law school going in right there and the Main Street Garden)

The Dallas High School would be AWESOME if someone bought it an converted it to loft apartments. I know tons of people who agree. Otherwise, if it is going to remain boarded up, the just get rid of it. There’s plenty of opportunity in downtown to turn older buildings into neat apartments. I don’t know why it hasn’t already been done. Give it a few years, and after the numerous parks that are to be built, downtown will start changing.

By: LakeWWWooder

LakeWWWooder — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:45:09 +0000

Are any buildings north of NW Highway actually needed? I mean, besides North Park..

I am a fan of Dallas City Hall. It represents Dallas as the can-do city after the assassination. I don’t think it’s ugly, it’s different. I know that is a sin to folks in Friso.

Crozier Tech/Dallas/Bryan High School is the first high school in Dallas. Even though I am partial to the seventh, it should not be demolished. It’s HISTORIC.

Elvis stayed at the Statler Hilton. As for the Convention Center it’s called (”Memorial Auditorium” neophytes!), the Beatles played there.

Enough said.

Except I met Maureen Reagan in there…

By: Informed

Informed — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:21:36 +0000

The Belo Bldg. Enough said!

By: Nathan Scot

Nathan Scot — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:31:48 +0000

The issue with these civic buildings is that the public spaces are forlorn and empty. The IM Pei City Hall is a striking building that is a bit threadbare inside from use and lack of upkeep. The Library needs nothing more than a “cleaning”, with tidy bowl.
The signature style that reached fruition in the 70’s (Brutalism?) has started to be rediscovered, so it would be as objectionable to discard it as the attempts to “international stylize” Fair Park in the 60’s
Johnson’s Cenotaph? Tear it down? That is an unconscionable idea, especially as it is a memorial to someone whose vigor best epitomised late Modern.
Reunion was architecturally honest, I think the largest eight point cantilevered truss in the world. Compare to that awful pastiche that is the AA.

By: ellum08

ellum08 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:03:39 +0000

Jim R,

The arena ‘wart’ you speak of on the Convention Center is actually the oldest part of the complex. It was built in 1957 by George Dahl (of Fair Park fame) and is actually one of the better mid century public buildings left in Dallas.

As far as the Statler is concerned, it is probably the best mid century modern building in Dallas, perhaps even the state.

Tearing a building down because they are ugly or out of date was the same justification for demolishing Penn Station in the 1960’s. Granted, these buildings are not Penn Station, but I do think architecture should be allowed to mature and gain appreciation over time.

By: niceguytx

niceguytx — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:42:10 +0000

Intrigued by the comments here. Some of the buildings criticized here are my favorites, including the Statler Hilton and the old Crozier Tech building. (They need to be developed, yes, but let’s not tear them down just to tear them down.)

I’m curious to know what buildings posters DO like. Might be interesting to see where their aesthetic viewpoint is coming from…

By: Dressage Barbie

Dressage Barbie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:25:54 +0000

I have another vote for the Wylie. And I think the inside is worse than the outside. “Wylie Green” is positively nauseating and the metal mesh on the magnetic walls by the staircase already looks messy and worn. Yuck!

By: joeat

joeat — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:12:23 +0000

The Ritz-Carlton is ugly and already very old and tired looking. The Wyly is pretty strange looking and will have no lasting looking value.

By: Dallasite

Dallasite — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:15:34 +0000

Wyly Theatre. What were they thinking?

I also agree that the Grand Hotel has got to go. Functionally unusable, and aesthetically painful.

By: allison

allison — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:12:40 +0000

In one of my architecture classes, we were taught that the “big brown box” is what the Infomart came in. Shipped it over, set the box down, pulled out the Infomart, put it down next to the box and wah-lah!

My vote would be for 99.99% of all industrial park buildings. Building of note: The Adam’s Mark/Sheraton/Whatever it is these days. The Fairmont, too. Ugg-uh-lee!