Corporate Headquarters at Old Parkland

The historic buildings of Dallas’ Parkland Hospital, constructed on an eight-acre site in the Oak Lawn neighborhood in 1915 and 1921, have undergone a significant transformation. Purchased by Crow Holdings, the campus has been restored and expanded to serve as their corporate headquarters. The central design challenge was to integrate the company’s non-hierarchical corporate culture into a new addition that harmonizes with, but does not imitate, the original structure. This was achieved by placing a great room between the historic building’s arms in a highly machined steel, limestone, and glass structure, with parking tucked underneath to maintain the park-like setting’s integrity and character. Originally constructed in 1913 by Dallas architects Hubbell and Greene, the two-story neoclassical building served as the city’s first permanent public hospital. As the city grew, additional pavilions were added in 1921 and 1936. Parkland became a site of medical innovations, including Texas’ first psychiatric ward, blood bank, and cancer laboratory for women. During the 1940s, it was the only hospital in the country to accept infectious polio patients. In 1954, Dallas County constructed a new Parkland Hospital, and the original facility became known as Old Parkland, dedicated to specialty units. It later served as a minimum-security prison before closing in 1974. The Dallas Landmark Commission designated it a Dallas Historic Landmark in 1987. The renovation preserved the historic façade on Maple Avenue and parts of the Oak Lawn and Reagan Street facades, while removing some earlier construction to add a new west-facing addition. This addition features a large, double-height open office at the main floor level, with two levels of underground parking hidden below. The new structure, with its smooth Texas limestone, expansive glass curtain wall, and exterior sun control devices, serves as a contemporary counterpoint to the restored Georgian Revival of the historic building. Significant structural stabilization and restoration efforts included replacing deteriorated masonry, restoring terracotta cornices, and repairing or replacing the original 256 cypress windows with energy-efficient units. The main entry porch was also meticulously repaired rather than removed, reinforcing the historic integrity of the building. Throughout the campus, exterior gathering places like porches and terraces, and interior common areas such as the “Pecan Room,” foster a strong sense of collaboration and community. The Dallas Chapter AIA recognized the project with its first-ever Sustainability Award in 2007, and the Greater Dallas Planning Council gave it an Urban Design Award in 2008. The project also received a Preservation Achievement Award from Preservation Dallas, and an AIA Dallas Merit Award in 2011, acknowledging its excellence in preserving historical integrity while meeting modern needs