Apartment News
New luxury residences at former DISD building will keep cool facade
Construction is underway on a new multi-family development going into the old Dallas Independent School District (DISD) administration building at 3700 Ross Ave.
Called the Academic, the development from Leon Capital Group will repurpose the site with an eye towards keeping historically relevant bits.
It'll keep the main entrance and facade, plus the two-story main building and several oak trees.
Preservation of the structure was included in the zoning ordinance. Leon consulted with the Landmark Commission to identify which parts of the 70-year-old building could be saved.
The Academic will be a luxury community situated on four acres, with a five-story, Class A apartment community with 365 units, including studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartment homes, ranging from 500 to 1,150 square feet.
Amenities include private balconies/patios and yards; 10- to 12-foot ceilings; quartz/granite counters and stainless steel appliances; full-size washers/dryers; and oval tubs with separate glass-enclosed showers.
Community amenities include a club house with golf and sports simulators; convenience mart; executive business center with flex office; resort-style pool; and fitness center.
The development will also include a six-story parking structure and exterior materials of cast stone, stucco, wood and metal.
"Through our preservation work, The Academic is a nod to the area's original essence, returning Ross Avenue to its fabric and vision,” says Carl Starry, a managing director of multifamily for Leon Capital Group.
"The transformation of the DISD administration building into The Academic has been a true collaboration made possible by the community, Leon Capital Group, and our design team working together for the best outcome," he says.
That design team included Architecture Demarest, Urban Structures, Basharkhah Engineering, Spiars Engineering, and DesignSixTwo.
Leon Capital Group is a Dallas-based investment company with a focus on real estate that's also developing three other projects: Society 190, a luxury apartment community in Richardson; Lakeyard District near the Grandscape development; and Hangar 19 located within Centerport just south of DFW International Airport.