At Texas Society of Architects’ 79th Annual Conference and Design Expo, Merriman Anderson/Architects’ (MAA) President and Founder Jerry Merriman, AIA, and Principal and Team Leader Aimee Sanborn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, presented about how adaptive re-use and historic preservation benefits the community of Downtown Dallas. They presented alongside Kristian Teleki, MBA, Senior Vice President, Development at Matthews Southwest, Evan Sheets, a senior urban designer at the City of Dallas Office of Planning and Urban Design, and Dustin Bullard, ASLA, the Vice President of Public Space and Design for Downtown Dallas, Inc.

The 79th Annual Conference and Design Expo took place November 8-10 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Three keynote speakers, 100 continuing education sessions, more than 30 tours, 300 exhibitors and several parties took place. The event draws more than 3,000 industry professional each year and gives them the opportunity to network with colleagues and vendors, collect credits for licensure, and learn about new products and services in the industry.

The team discussed how historic preservation projects in Downtown Dallas have contributed to local culture, created tax base, and mended the urban fabric. Many historical buildings in downtown had been left abandoned, but over the last decade newly restored and emerging projects are bringing sustenance in the form of authentic historic experiences with retail, office, event centers, entertainment, hospitality, and multi-family. MAA has worked on dozens of notable historical projects in Downtown Dallas and will be speaking about The Statler, Old Dallas High School, THE DREVER, Tower Petroleum Cambria/Corrigan Tower, and LTV Tower.