Urban Structure is proud to have provided the structural engineering plans for the dramatic transformation of Dallas’ Energy Plaza into The Sinclair. This 49-story tower, originally designed by I.M. Pei & Partners and completed in 1983, has undergone a $300 million renovation and rebranding.

The revitalized 1.2 million-square-foot tower now offers 450,000 square feet of office space alongside its residential units. Amenities include a residential lobby, office lobby, lounges, a library, private dining room, demonstration kitchen, co-working space, gym, sauna, pool, and outdoor grilling area.

The unique structural challenges were numerous, but most noteworthy was removing the existing floor framing adjacent to the exterior 49 story columns!  Massive temporary bracing beams were carefully installed and secured back to the shear wall core to ensure that the heavily loading columns remained stable during construction.  The bracing was later removed after the completion of a new helical parking ramp that was carved through the lower floors of the tower.  The process was tedious and carefully coordinated with the Contractor to ensure the stability of the building for both the temporary and final conditions.  The renovated structure now stands as a testament to the ingenuity and collaborative efforts of HKS, Brasfield & Gorrie, and the Urban Structure team that will have a lasting impact on the downtown community.  Thank you to the Todd Interest Group for the opportunity to provide structural service for this outstanding project.