| George Dahl | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Birth Date: | 11 May 1894 |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Death Place: | Dallas, Texas |
| Significant Buildings: | Titche-Goettinger Building, Hillcrest State Bank, The Dallas Morning News building, Southwestern Life building, LTV Aerospace Center, Dallas Public Library, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium[1] |
| Significant Projects: | Texas Centennial Exposition, University of Texas |
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.
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.[2]
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.[3] Upon his retirement in 1973, he had produced some 3,000 projects throughout the country that are estimated to be worth $2 billion.
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.
Dallas Projects:
| Year Completed | Building | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 1618 Main Street | ||
| 1929 | 1900 Elm Street | ||
| 1930 | Volk Brothers Building | ||
| 1934 | 1514 Elm | ||
| 1936 | Fair Park | ||
| 1936 | Fair Park | ||
| 1936 | 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 | 6000 Preston Road | ||
| 1953 | Central Expressway/Mockingbird | ||
| 1955 | 1954 Commerce Street | ||
| 1956 | |||
| 1957 | Dallas Federal Savings and Loan | 1505 Elm Street | |
| 1957 | |||
| 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 | 1401 Elm Street | ||
| 1969 | Oak Lawn/Blackburn | ||
| 1970 | Grand Prairie | ||
| 1970 | First National Bank of Grapevine | 1400 South Main Street, Grapevine | |
| 1971 | Earle Cabell Federal Building |