DALLAS, TX – Just two days shy of the one year mark since work officially began on the project, Turner Construction Company today hosted a Topping Out and lunch to acknowledge the hundreds of individuals who have played a role in the design and construction of Phase I at Hall Arts. A five-acre, two-city-block, multi-use real estate project in the center of the Dallas Arts District, Hall Arts is owned and being developed by Craig Hall and Hall Financial Group.
Topping Out activities began at 11:00 a.m. with workers signing the final steel beam to be placed on the building’s rooftop. After being signed, the steel beam – with a large Evergreen tree on one end and the American flag on the other – was hoisted by crane to the top of KPMG Plaza. The placement of this final beam signifies that the highest point of construction on the structure has been reached and is considered an important milestone in the construction life of a high-rise project. Once the beam was securely placed, Turner Construction treated workers and guests to a BBQ lunch buffet.
Phase I of Hall Arts includes KPMG Plaza, an 18-story, 500,000 square foot, Class AAA office building that includes 20,000 square feet of premium restaurant space; and the Texas Sculpture Walk, an adjacent half-acre landscaped public sculpture park with a cascading water feature, outdoor seating areas, and walkways that span Ross Avenue to Flora Street. The Texas Sculpture Walk was designed to physically connect the Dallas Central Business District with the Dallas Arts District with large, prominent displays of contemporary sculpture and art by some of the state’s leading artists.
“Today marks another special day in our journey to deliver what we hope will be a destination development that is good for the city, for the Dallas Arts District and for us,” said Craig Hall, chairman and founder of Hall Financial Group. “The efforts of so many, especially Turner Construction, are now clearly visible and we are proud to be a real contributor to the vibrant heart and soul of Dallas in the largest and most impressive arts district in the country.”
According to Turner, an average of 210 trades people are onsite working on the project each day. A total of 78,750 trade person days – or 680,000 man hours – are required to complete this first phase of the development along with 25,000 cubic yards of concrete and 825 tons of reinforcing steel. Approximately 500 different people will have been employed as a result of Phase I of Hall Arts by the end of this year.
“We feel fortunate to be part of such a great project team whose participants have collaborated to achieve this important milestone,” said Turner Construction Company Director Steven Whitcraft. “We look forward to celebrating the next milestone together in the spring.”
As is true for other developments owned by Craig Hall and Hall Financial Group, contemporary sculpture and art played significant roles in the design of the overall Hall Arts master plan. Part of Phase I, the Texas Sculpture Walk, will be a 21st century collection of newly commissioned and owned works by artists living and working in the state today. In addition to the Texas collection, other significant contemporary sculpture and art by artists from all over the world will be on display for the public’s enjoyment throughout all three phases of the Hall Arts development project.
KPMG Plaza at Hall Arts is 60% pre-leased to anchor tenant KPMG LLP, Jackson Walker L.L.P., UMB Bank, and Hall Financial Group. Renowned chef Stephan Pyles will also be relocating his flagship restaurant to one of the building’s two primary restaurant spaces facing Flora Street and overlooking Sammons Park and entrances to the Meyerson Symphony Center and the Winspear Opera House.
About Hall Arts
Now well underway in the center of the world-renowned Dallas Arts District is Hall Arts, a five-acre mixed-use, three-phase development on two full city blocks designed by internationally acclaimed architects HKS, Inc. The first phase of the project incorporates an 18-story, 500,000-square-foot office building with 20,000. hallarts.com.
About Turner Construction
Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company and is a leading builder in diverse and numerous market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees and community. With a staff of 5,200 employees whowork on more than 1,200 projects each year, Turner offers clients the accessibility and support of a local firm with the stability and resources of a multi-national organization. For more information, visitturnerconstruction.com.
About Hall Financial Group
Founded in 1968, Hall Financial Group is owned by Craig Hall and family. Diversified holdings include active operations in commercial real estate development, ownership and management; software application development; structured finance lending for real estate and other areas; vineyards and wineries; and oil and gas. For more information, visithallfinancial.com.
http://dallas.citybizlist.com/article/206877/turner-construction-hosts-first-topping-out-in-the-dallas-arts-district-in-more-than-eight-years-at-hall-financial-groups-kpmg-plaza-at-hall-arts