A Dallas design firm has snagged the top floor of an iconic building: SHM Architects, PLLC, has leased a 12,218-square-foot space at the historic Meadows Building at Energy Square, located at 5646 Milton St., relocating from their offices at 4514 Travis St. in the Knox District.

According to Michael Griffin of Transwestern Real Estate Services, who with Ethan Minter represented the tenant, SHM needed "a space that is both larger and inspiring."

"The penthouse space of the iconic mid-century modern Meadows Building, with massive balconies and a jewel box of glass in every direction, was the perfect solution," Griffin says in a release.

Completed in 1955, the Meadows Building was the first suburban office tower in Dallas and originally served as the headquarters for the General American Oil Company.

It has many wonderful little features such as nice hardware for the door handles and a beautiful terrazzo floor in the lobby.

Energy Square recently underwent a renovation that netted it a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, conference center, tenant lounges, revamped delis, campus park, and outdoor deck, spread out across five buildings that include the Meadows Building.

It was one of nine projects recognized with a Preservation Texas Honor Award in 2021 from Preservation Texas, who applauded the outstanding renovation it received from Glenstar and USAA Real Estate, which included going so far as to source replacement marble from the original quarry. "A lot of love went into saving this midcentury masterpiece,” wrote one of the Honor Award jury members.

It would surely be a gift to work there every day, and the release says that SHM is expanding its workforce. Wonder if they need writers.

The building is also steps away from the Lovers Lane stop on the DART Rail Red Line, perhaps making the idea of public transportation more enticing to the firm's cadre of young architects. Knox, home of their previous office, has no DART Rail stop, see what I'm saying.

SHM Architects, PLLC was founded in 2005 by David Stocker, Mark Hoesterey, and Enrique Montenegro. They also have a satellite studio in Crested Butte, Colorado, which they opened in 2019.

“Ever since the beginning of our firm, we have had our eye on the Meadows Building," says SHM founding Principal David Stocker. "We have great respect for Dallas architect J.N. MacCammon’s and the Meadows family’s vision for the building and the growth of Dallas."

He calls the building "a lovely example of mid-century modernism."