George Dahl

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 (Olson) 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 firm, George Leighton Dahl, Architects and Engineers, Incorporated, with a nationwide practice. Dahl was also a pioneer in fast-track construction. Upon his retirement in 1973, he had produced some 3,000 projects throughout the country that are estimated to be worth $2 billion.

Personal life Dahl was married twice: in 1921 to Lillie E. Olson, with whom he had one daughter, and in 1978 to Joan Renfro. Dahl died of dehydration at the age of ninety-three at his home in Dallas.

Significant work

303 W. Wall St., Midland, TX; formerly the First National Bank Building, still tallest building in Midland, TX in 2018

Dallas Projects:

Year CompletedBuildingAddressNotes 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 1962 The Whittle Music Building 2733 Oak Lawn Avenue 1964 Southwestern Life Building Ross/Akard 1964 Northway Baptist Church Sanctuary 3877 Walnut Hill Lane 1965 Owen Fine Art Center Southern Methodist University 1965 First National Bank Tower 1401 Elm Street 1968 St. Pius X Catholic Church (Dallas, Texas) 3030 Gus Thomasson Road Mid-century modern sanctuary combining mission-inspired detailing and laminated wood construction 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: First National Bank Building, 303 W. Wall St., Midland, TX, 1952 Tanglewood Resort, Lake Texoma, 1960 DC Stadium, later renamed to RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., 1962 Medical facilities for: Dallas Methodist Hospital, Dallas Public Health Center Central Library for The University of Texas at Arlington Texas Hall 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.