The Metropolis

This brick, porcelain panel and glass building was originally constructed for the Baptist Annuity Center and is located where the two street grids of Downtown Dallas intersect, leading to a very interesting collection of masses on this site.  After the Baptist Annuity Center vacated this site, the building was renamed 511 N. Akard and still has the address outlined in neon on the north and south facades of the building.  The main tower of the building is 17 stories and is oriented toward Akard Street (roughly true north and south).  A three story service building is oriented to San Jacinto Street, which is on the 45 degree street grid.  Adjacent to this is a parking garage facing the intersection of Akard and Patterson (both street grids).  The parking garage has been painted with a whale mural on two sides.  Recently, renovation plans called for the conversion of this office building into luxury apartments, complete with an observation tower on top of the building.  However, this project has been canceled.  At 303 feet, the building is the 49th tallest in Dallas.