When it opened 30 years ago, The Crescent sparked the creation of Uptown, now one of the region’s most successful districts. This week, the owners of the iconic mixed-use development showed off the results of a $33 million renovation.
Much has changed around The Crescent—designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Philip Johnson, along with John Burgee and Dallas-based Shepherd & Boyd—during the past three decades. For years, the complex, which includes a luxury hotel, three office towers, and restaurants and retail shops, was self-contained. But as scores of new apartments, condos, office projects, retail stores, and restaurants opened up in the neighborhood—plus the addition of the nearby Klyde Warren Park—Uptown became much more pedestrian-oriented. So, Crescent Real Estate Holdings decided an upgrade was needed to reflect those changes.
It’s the first major renovation for The Crescent since its 1986 completion, although infrastructure improvements to the tune of about $15 million were made several years ago to boost energy reliability and efficiency. New improvements include a street entrance and outdoor deck for Palomino restaurant, a new storefront for Stanley Korshak, new entrance signage and exterior lighting, and a revamped motor court.
New amenities also are in the works. Ascension, the popular coffee house and wine bar, has already opened. It has a menu that’s similar to the Design District original, including full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Later this year, The Crescent will add a Moxie’s Grill & Bar, marking the American debut of the Canadian restaurant owned by Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi. It also will see the opening of Shake Shack, the New York chain known for its “roadside” burgers. A free-standing pavilion at the corner of McKinney Avenue and Pearl Street, it will pay homage to another Philip Johnson design—his iconic “glass house” in New Canaan, Conn.
Staffelbach, which was heavily involved in the inaugural design, was on hand to ensure the renovations maintained the integrity of the original. The Beck Group, the general contractor that built The Crescent, returned to handle the renovations. The Office of James Burnett, known for its work on Klyde Warren Park, created the landscape design, including small pocket parks.
John Zogg, managing director of Crescent Real Estate Equities, said The Crescent has withstood the test of time. “While these improvements reflect the dynamic changes and vibrancy of Uptown, we have stayed true to the vision of Caroline Rose Hunt while maintaining the integrity of the exquisite architecture,” he said. Zogg also noted that The Crescent has become a premier financial center in the Southwest. Out of 117 tenants in the office towers, 85 are finance-related.
Here’s a look back—and a look ahead—at The Crescent: