Developers Making Progress on Old Dallas High School Renovation, Building Set to Open in October

A century-old building in Downtown Dallas that has sat vacant for decades is once again roaring with life.

Crews are busy finishing renovations on the old Dallas High School/Crozier Tech property near Pearl and Bryan streets; the space is being transformed into a mixed use development with both office and restaurant space.

"Our target is to have our first tenant, Perkins and Will, in the building in October of this year," said Kristian Teleki, senior vice president of Matthew Southwest, which is developing the property. "So it's going at warp speed. But so far, so good."

Thursday, Teleki and other members of the development team gave members of the media a tour of the building to show the progress they've made.

Because the school, which was constructed in 1907, has historical protections, crews have had to take extra steps to preserve certain aspects of the building as they gut and update it.

Most of the work they're currently doing involves wiring, installing HVAC systems, constructing an elevator shaft, and adding walls.

"We like historic buildings," said Teleki. "We like buildings with challenges."

One area where they have made significant progress is in their restoration work.

Teleki said there are several historic features of the building that he and the design team fell in love with, but that were in rough shape when they began working on the project last year.

That includes the ornate detailing in the school's auditorium, which will serve as the building's new atrium. Their work now has them looking good as new.

"It really stands out with some really neat architectural elements -- the coffered ceilings, the book detailing at the top of the columns," said Teleki. "It's probably where you're going to see the most unique historic architectural elements within the building."

Teleki said the project is just the first step in what he hopes will be a complete transformation of the property and the area around it.

"We'll have other office buildings and we're planning for a hotel," said Teleki. "It's such a beautiful asset, it's a great anchor for what will then be the six or so acres to develop around it.