Quick Facts
Biography
George Leighton Dahl (May 11, 1894 – July 18, 1987) was a prominent American architect based in Dallas, Texas during the 20th century. His most notable contributions include the Art Deco structures of Fair Park while he oversaw planning and construction of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. In 1970, in anticipation of imminent commercial growth brought on by the impending development of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, he designed the First National Bank of Grapevine building at 1400 South Main Street. This iconic cubist structure served as a harbinger of the area's upcoming economic development.
Background
George Dahl was born in Minneapolis to Norwegian immigrant parents, Olaf G. and Laura (Olsen) Dahl. He received a B.Arch. from the University of Minnesota and a M.Arch. from Harvard University in 1923. He subsequently spent two years in Italy as a fellow at the American Academy in Rome.
Career
In 1926, he began work for the Herbert M. Greene Co. in Dallas, Texas. He became a partner in Greene's firm in 1928, and the name of the firm was changed to Herbert M. Greene, LaRoche, and Dahl (later LaRoche and Dahl).
In 1943, Dahl founded his own company, George Leighton Dahl, Architects and Engineers, Incorporated. He was among the first Texas architects to have a nationwide practice and was among the pioneers in fast-track design, which allowed for actual construction to begin even before the design was finished. Upon his retirement in 1973, he had produced some 3,000 projects throughout the country that are estimated to be worth $3 billion.
Personal life
Dahl was married twice: in 1921 to Lillie E. Olsen, with whom he had one daughter, and in 1978 to Joan Renfro. Dahl died of cancer at the age of ninety-three at his home in Dallas.
Significant work
Dallas Projects:
| Year Completed | Building | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Neiman Marcus Building | 1618 Main Street | |
| 1929 | Titche-Goettinger Building | 1900 Elm Street | |
| 1930 | Volk Brothers Building | ||
| 1934 | Singer Building (Dallas, Texas) | 1514 Elm | |
| 1936 | Tower Building | Fair Park | |
| 1936 | Esplanade of State | Fair Park | |
| 1936 | Cotton Bowl | Fair Park | |
| 1938, 1972 | Hillcrest State Bank | First drive-through bank | |
| 1947 | Mayfair Department Store | 141 Elm Street | |
| 1948 | American Poster & Printing Building | 1600 S Akard Street | |
| 1949 | Remington Rand Building | 2100 N Akard Street | |
| 1949 | Dallas Morning News Building | 508 Young Street | |
| 1949 | Merchants State Bank | Ross/Henderson | |
| 1949 | Philipson's Fashions | Elm/St Paul | |
| 1950 | Employers Insurance Building | ||
| 1950 | Great American Reserve Insurance Building | 2020 Live Oak Street | |
| 1951 | Park Cities YMCA | 6000 Preston Road | |
| 1953 | Mrs. Baird's Bakery | Central Expressway/Mockingbird | |
| 1955 | Old Dallas Central Library | 1954 Commerce Street | |
| 1956 | Congregation Shearith Israel | ||
| 1957 | Dallas Federal Savings and Loan | 1505 Elm Street | |
| 1957 | Dallas Memorial Auditorium | ||
| 1964 | Southwestern Life Building | Ross/Akard | |
| 1965 | Owen Fine Art Center | Southern Methodist University | |
| 1965 | First National Bank Tower | 1401 Elm Street | |
| 1969 | Turtle Creek Village | Oak Lawn/Blackburn | |
| 1970 | LTV Aerospace | Grand Prairie | |
| 1970 | First National Bank of Grapevine | 1400 South Main Street, Grapevine | |
| 1971 | Earle Cabell Federal Building |
Other Projects:
- DC Stadium, later renamed to RFK Stadium, Washington, DC, 1962
- Tanglewood Resort, Lake Texoma, 1960
- Medical facilities for: Dallas Methodist Hospital, Dallas Public Health Center
- Central Library for The University of Texas at Arlington
- Education facilities for: University of Texas, University of North Texas, East Texas State College, University of Plano, Southern Methodist University, Jesuit High School
- Prisons for the Texas Department of Corrections
- Retail stores for Sears, Roebuck and Co.
- Barker, Evelyn and Lea Worcester. University of Texas at Arlington, the Campus History Series (Charleston: Arcadia, 2015), p.63.