Wilson Building - Dallas, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 32° 46.871 W 096° 47.834
14S E 706300 N 3629177
The Wilson Building is an 8-story eclectic commercial structure built of reinforced concrete and glazed brick with terra cotta, stone, and marble ornmentation. The facade details are basically classically inspired. The building fronts three streets.
Waymark Code: WM114KK
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 08/15/2019
Views: 2
NRHP Nomination Form"Overall, the building is rectangular in shape with curved tripartite bays on the northeast and southeast corners. The building is also divided into three pavilions by recessed lightwells on the east elevation. The ornamental detail extends one story deep into the lightwells and beyond that point the facade is covered with a plain white glaze finish brick. The Wilson Building has a reinforced concrete skeleton (designed to be fireproof) that rests on a coal and cinder base.
The brick facade is stretcher bond with carved stone and terra cotta ornament and door surrounds. The eight story facade is divided into four horizontal sections by belt courses above the second and fifth levels and a projecting cornice above the seventh floor. Although the original design for the building showed a five story structure with a dome over one section, the present structure has a flat roof with a projecting cornice.
At the top of each pilaster is an omamental motif consisting of a vertical oval with a W inscribed on it flanked by scrolls and topped with a shell. The motif is also present above the two pilasters on each of the north and south bay areas but is made even more ornate by the presence of an eagle with spread wings atop the shell. Above the eagles, wrapping around the curved part of the building, are two terra cotta circular medallions with swags draped between and on either side. The curved portion of the arch is formed from light colored stone banded by brick and there is a carved stone volute at the top center. The arches at the northwest and southwest ends of the building are more omamental than the others in that they are rusticated and the windows are inset bay windows.
Designed by the regionally prominent Fort Worth firm of Sanguinet and Staats, the Wilson Building was the first 8 story building in the state. It was built in 1903 by the Dallas rancher and investor J. B. Wilson to house Titche-Gottinger and provide office space for the medical profession. It was the first "large scale, sumptuous quarters for a major retail store in Dallas"