Become an authority of historic Dallas neighborhoods! This popular two-day seminar includes lectures from local experts on architectural history and styles of Dallas, the preservation ordinance, property tax incentives, how to research the history of a building, and more! It also includes a bus tour of historic neighborhoods in Dallas. Participants receive a signed copy of Virginia McAlester’s  A Field Guide to American Houses  and a complimentary one year Individual membership to Preservation Dallas. Don’t delay! Enrollment is limited to 25 people. The past sessions have sold out with a wait list!

Essential Light Design Studio is dedicated to the design and integration of both natural and electrical lighting to complement and enhance architecture. Consideration is always given to how the space will be used and how the distribution of light will effect human perception, productivity and health. Essential Light strives to remain at the forefront of technological advancements that effect light and health as this is an important aspect of the built environment. Occupant experience – visual, psychological and physiological – is always discussed and often informs lighting and controls design.

Founded in 2005 by Jill Klores, Essential Light takes a project approach that is participatory and interactive. A partnership with the architect, design team and the construction team is vital to the success of the lighting design and the installation of the project. Essential Light prides themselves on availability and accessibility to the client, ability to present creative approaches to unique design challenges, and desire to work with the construction crew to resolve conflict and achieve a coordinated installation.

Essential Light is able to take the lighting design for any project from conceptual design through construction documents, assist with the construction administration of the lighting-related elements as well as the aiming and adjustment of the final lighting installation.

Comprehension of architectural spaces is critical to the success and the enhancement of the architecture through lighting. For historic preservation projects, an understanding of original lighting intent and aesthetic must be paired with the building’s new visual needs to design a respectful lighting solution. With employees who have a background in architecture, interior design, theatrical lighting, manufacturing and utility based energy efficiency, Essential Light is especially suited to architecturally complex projects.

Essential Light has recently received a Preservation Achievement Award for Factory Six03 in Dallas’ West End. Essential Light also worked on the original Old Parkland Hospital renovation as well as the Nurse’s Quarters from 2008 to 2010, and has currently provided design options for the Horse and Mule barns at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Essential Light Design Studio’s main office is located in Dallas at 3027 Clover Street and they also have an office in New York City. Essential Light Design Studio, LLC is woman-owned, WBE Certified and State of Texas HUB certified. See more about Essential Light Design Studio at EssentialLight.com

Time is running out to submit a nomination for the 2018 list of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Dallas. If you know of a threatened or endangered site in Dallas please nominate it for the 2018 list which will be announced this fall. Click here to download a nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, August 24. 

One local nonprofit is fighting to save a historic home in the Tenth Street District. They are buildingcommunityWORKSHOP ([bc]), a nonprofit community design center that employs the tools of architecture, planning, and design to serve community interests and amplify underheard voices in the civic dialogue. [bc] is working to renovate a structure on 10th Street to give it new life as a locus for community activities and to preserve a piece of history in the process.

Dallas's Tenth Street District has a rich history as a historic Freedmen's Town—a community built by former slaves freed during or after the Civil War. Today, many of the neighborhood’s historic homes are in need of urgent repair if the physical historic character of the neighborhood is to endure. Over the past few years, the neighborhood has witnessed the demolition of many of its historic homes, and even historically significant buildings like the Sunshine Elizabeth Chapel C.M.E. Church, which dated back to 1889.

In 2012, [bc] purchased a historic home at 1208 E. 10th Street in an attempt to protect the structure from destruction. [bc]’s goal is to renovate the structure for community use, so that it may serve as a Neighborhood Resource Center. The Center will host informational workshops, arts and cultural events to celebrate neighborhood heritage, and provide a physical location for residents to receive technical assistance from [bc] staff in issues related to design, architecture, and planning.

Through the generosity of supporters, [bc] was able to complete all architectural design work and construction documents, secure construction permits and a Certificate of Appropriateness, and finish all necessary demolition work on the interior of the structure. However, during demolition, it became apparent that the building needed to be completely reframed, necessitating additional costs and significant revisions in the project plan.

In order to address these needs, [bc] has launched a crowdfunding campaign . Funds raised through this campaign will help [bc] attain the next milestone in this project: to stabilize the framing and protect the structure from the elements. This will set the stage for its eventual use as a Neighborhood Resource Center to support the community in revitalization efforts, celebrating its history and planning for the future.

By establishing this Center, [bc] hopes to support renovation and restoration work in the community by sharing what was learned, especially in how to navigate the process for obtaining permission for work in the Historic District. This will help to ensure the historic structures of Tenth Street can be preserved and its unique cultural character endures. 

As we are head into fall there are a few big issues which we are tracking and working on that will be coming up for votes at City Council. Those include Fair Park, Historic Designation and Appeal Procedure changes, and the greater downtown historic resource survey.

For a very long time Preservation Dallas has worked on issues surrounding Fair Park and most recently the privatization of the management of Fair Park. As you all know from the press this is a huge issue for the city right now as they work on approving the contract with Fair Park First to manage the site for the next twenty plus years. And that will be no easy task, especially with the uphill battles they face with the public’s perception of the site, the need to increase activity there, and the numerous issues with the infrastructure and historic buildings that need to be addressed. At the last Park Board meeting I spoke on behalf of Preservation Dallas, urging that preservation of the historic site and buildings be a priority for the Fair Park First and that they fully understand the historic significance of Fair Park and process for approvals to work on the buildings and art work. I was pleased to hear at the meeting that Fair Park First is planning a $160 million capital campaign for Fair Park to include work to the buildings and art, which is in addition to $30 million they would like to raise for the neighborhood park within Fair Park. It is also good to know that two ardent preservationists are on the Fair Park First board, Veletta Lill and Norman Alston, AIA. They are but two of the thirteen planned board members so we will have to assist them in making sure that the full Fair Park First board recognizes the importance of proper historic preservation and makes it a high priority for Fair Park.

The work of the Historic Designation and Appeals Committee has wrapped up and the Landmark Commission will be making a final recommendation on the proposed changes to those processes next month to send to City Council for approval. The Committee has worked hard for the past several months with numerous meetings, normally lasting over two hours each, on the various issues regarding the steps for initiation of the Landmark Designation process and the how to appeal that decision. Public input at those meetings has been an important part of the work of the committee. The committee has come up with several revisions to the process to make it more community focused for initiations or expansions of historic districts. Some extra steps are proposed with a written Statement of Intent for the reasons a district should be created or expanded along with a special new meeting in the community to get feedback on the initiation. The latter will allow more voices to be heard before the Landmark Commission makes a discussion on whether or not to initiate the process for historic designation.  

Lastly as the city is in the throes of budget discussions there is one important budget item for preservation that needs support. That of $100,000 currently in the Sustainable Development and Construction Department budget for a survey of historic buildings in the greater downtown area. The survey was a recommendation from the Downtown Task Force in 2015 and is a needed tool as the previous survey is out of date and needs to expand farther out to the areas covered by the Demolition Delay Overlay. So, please contact your Council Member in support of the funding or attend one of the upcoming budget hearings and voice your support for it remaining in the budget. You can go here to get a schedule of the budget hearings.  

Enjoy the remainder of the summer and stay cool out there in the summer temps! 

Tuesday, August 28, 5:30 p.m.

Come see how Tyler Station has been transformed from the historic Dixie Wax Paper manufacturing facility to a 110,000 SF co-working village. The event is free and open to all professionals interested in the urban design fields. The Greater Dallas Planning Council (GDPC) is proud to partner with many of the planning and design organizations throughout the DFW region, including Preservation Dallas. Project speakers include our past Board President, Alicia Quintans.

Wednesday, August 29, 6 p.m.

Completed in 1962, the “Round House” was commissioned by Dallas businessman and bon vivant Eddie Parker. While it has never been confirmed, Bruce Goff is credited with designing the house which contains such eccentricities as 24 karat gold dipped ceramic tiles, Hawaiian mahogany, Frankoma tiled glass walls, onyx terrazzo, intricate mosaics and brass inlaid concrete floors. The Round House is still considered one of the most architecturally significant homes in the city and you do not want to miss it!

Wednesday, September 26, 5 p.m.

Join the Urban Armadillos for a Happy Hour at Serendipity Labs on the 17th floor of HALL Arts in the Dallas Arts District. Explore the new upscale co-working space with terrific views of downtown Dallas.

Event sponsored by:

Serendipity Labs +  WPS + Teknion +  K2 Construction

Thursday, October 11, 8:30 a.m.

Have you taken the Historic House Specialist and are you ready for the Advanced class? This one-day class covers: materials and methods of Pre- and Post-WWII housing in Dallas, the economics involved in historic preservation, appraising and evaluating historic properties, historic landscapes, and how to do advanced research of a historic building on site at the Dallas Public Library. Don’t delay! This class fills fast!

The workshop includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Realtors will receive 6 hours MCE credit. 

This newsletter is sent to all current and past members, and those interested in preservation in Dallas. To become a member or to renew or upgrade your membership, please click below.