Fair Park’s Federal Building Wins a Preservation Dallas Annual Achievement Award

The Preservation Dallas Annual Achievement Awards recognize preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts. They also remind us of what we take for granted.

One of the most significant buildings that I think many of us have taken for granted is the Fair Park Federal Building (now known as the Tower Building), designed by Donald Nelson, the chief architect on George Dahl’s staff. Dahl oversaw the planning and construction of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition.

It was known as the Federal Building because it was constructed with federal funds and housed federal exhibits about everything from the Post Office Department to the Department of Labor. By all reports it was one of the most popular exhibition halls at the centennial.

When it was constructed, the 179-foot tower marked the geographic center of the park. With its gold fluting and an extraordinary gold eagle at the top, it became the architectural icon of the exposition and continues to be one of the most important architectural structures in Texas. 

Certainly, we all notice it. We use it as a meeting place during the state fair. We take our annual family photos in front of Big Tex with the dramatic tower as a backdrop. Many of us have attended exhibits inside over the years, and even if you’ve never set foot on the Fair Park grounds, you can see the tower from miles away. 

What we take for granted, however, is that it will always be there.

If it were not for some of the most talented preservationists in the United States, we might not have this structure today. Because it was built for an exhibition, it was not meant to last beyond ten or fifteen years. It was constructed in a little over three months and finished just before opening day, mainly because it took the U.S. government a while to commit to participating in the Texas Centennial. 

Although restoration and repair efforts have taken place in the past, taking care of any historic building requires ongoing maintenance, which has never ranked high in any city budget. However, when push comes to shove, everyone understands the historic significance of the Federal Building. A few years ago, the City of Dallas realized it was once again time to pay attention to this iconic structure. When they sent out an RFP (request for proposal), Phoenix I Restoration and Construction, LLC, well known for their work on historic buildings, was awarded the project.

However, there was a particular challenge. This historic building would not be accessible to work on during the Texas State Fair. “We had to figure out what we could get done before the fair, Phoenix I Vice President Kyle Moncrief said. “We finished interior structural repairs and plumbing upgrades so the exhibit hall could be used during the fair. Then we had to wait for the fair to be over to start on the exterior.”

Phoenix, I had up to 35 people at a time working on the exterior to restore challenging plasterwork, the bas-relief carvings, the frieze, and seals. “Originally, the frieze and seals were not included in the scope of work bid,” Moncrief said. “As work progressed, it became clear restoring these areas would make a substantial difference. We worked with Lynn Rushton at the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture and Fair Park First to get funding for the work and it made a big difference to the building.”

Phoenix I turned to sculptor and professional conservator Michael Van Enter and paint conservator Jhonny Langer to restore the U.S. federal seals over the main entrances to the building. 

There had been previous restorations, but new techniques, sophisticated tools, and newly discovered historic photos allowed Van Enter and Langer to recover original paint fragments and do a deeper dive into the historic paint colors. “Once we could look at the historic photos, we could isolate colors by contrast,” Van Enter said. “ We have much better analysis tools than those used even twenty years ago. To the best of our knowledge, it now looks as it did when it was built in 1936.” 

The Federal Building is one of the most recognizable Art Deco structures, not only in Fair Park but also in Texas. Restoration work addressed underlying structural problems and removed issues that contributed to the deterioration of the plaster. The building has been returned to its original appearance, and there is now better functionality as the year-round Fair Park headquarters and during the fair when it serves as the food court.

This is an enormous win for the city, its residents, and visitors. An iconic building is preserved, and history is honored. We will also continue to meet in front of the building and take those annual photos next to Big Tex with that dramatic tower as the backdrop for years to come.

Come out and celebrate the Preservation Dallas Annual Achievement Awards May 13 from 6-9 p.m at The Longhorn Ballroom.