Deep ties to the community and a desire to help revitalize the neighborhood inspired the new Dallas County Oak Cliff Government Center in Dallas, TX. Located in the original downtown area of Oak Cliff, the two-story facility was developed and design-built by Ryan Companies. Completed in 17 months, the concrete tilt-wall center features a large two-story curtainwall facade, public art installations throughout and an adjacent three-story parking garage connected via a pedestrian bridge. Home to the tax department, truancy department, constable and justice of the peace, the project merges beauty and functionality through terrazzo flooring on both floors, two courtrooms in walnut wood, exterior masonry, detailed landscaping and mid-project safety upgrades related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 43,000-SF facility received LEED Silver certification for its energy-efficient and innovative design and sustainable practices, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) upgrades; water-efficient landscaping with native plants; and the use of recycled and regional materials.
Our development team guided the project through due diligence, the entitlement process and the tenant lease financing structure, while also helping with value design to keep the project on budget. Working closely with all four county departments, we incorporated their needs into our programming, while also creating a center to host special events, such as election day voting. Honoring the area’s Hispanic roots, the county commissioned five local artists to create exterior murals, a wall-sized painted panel, and a mosaic floor inlay. We also exceeded the county’s goal for minority- and women-owned business vendor and subcontractor participation, with many of them local.
