George Dahl
Introduction '''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 Art Deco buildings in Fair ParkFirst National Bank Tower (Elm Place)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 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.
References
External links *  Texas Handbook Online*  University of Texas Library*  Architectural Images