Big Spring, Texas
Originally built in 1931, the 15 story Settles hotel closed in 1980, which began a long period of neglect, deterioration, and vandalism. Under new ownership, the building has been restored back to a luxury hotel, taking particular care to make public spaces as original as possible.
2013
Preservation Honor Award 2015, Preservation Texas
Historic Tax Credits
Dallas
The Lakewood Theater was one of the largest in the Interstate Theater system when constructed in 1938. It has become the symbol for the Lakewood area and holds significance for multiple generations of local residents. Underutilized for many years, all major building systems are being updated and preparations are underway for a recently signed tenant who will utilize the entire space and is expected to utilize the theater space in its original configuration, although it will not still be a movie theater. More info to come.
Norman Alston Architects led the effort to have the theater designated as a City of Dallas Landmark and is leading the restoration and updating efforts.
The exterior has been repainted in its original colors as determined through paint scrapings by decorative arts conservator Stashka Star. On November 30, 2018, the restoration of the exterior decorative lighting was officially completed with a grand re-lighting event in conjunction with the neighborhood Light Up Lakewood holiday street party. Completion of tenant improvements will soon follow.
Project is in progress
Historic Tax Credits
Dallas
Historic 1931 Federal building that was sold into private ownership, except that US Post Office retains ownership of most of the ground floor. Site of Sarah T. Hughes’ courtroom and the beginning of landmark Roe vs Wade. Site of Dallas’ Warren Commission meetings, Lee Harvey Oswald’s PO Box, and the trials of many of Bonnie and Clyde’s friends and family. Project called for restoration and adaptive reuse of Federal courtroom spaces, restoration of important public spaces and adaptive reuse of upper floors as apartments. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a City of Dallas Landmark.
2013
Preservation Honor Award 2014, Preservation Texas
Preservation Achievement Award 2012, Preservation Dallas
Historic Tax Credits
Marshall, Texas
A unique building design in many ways when it was constructed in 1912, it served the local lodge until the 1970's. It remained abandoned and was eventually sold. Over the years much of the remarkable facade had been removed or modified.
Working hand-in-hand with master carpenters and referring to available historic photos, the front facade was restored back as closely as possible to its original design.
2013
Historic Restoration Award 2014, Preservation Texas
Dallas
The story of Fair Park and the 1936 Centennial Exposition is a fascinating one set during a pivotal time in Texas history. The architectural legacy that remains is internationally recognized as an extensive and unique collection of Art Deco-inspired buildings as testified to by its National Historic Landmark designation.
Following the recommendations from a 2003 comprehensive master plan for Fair Park, the City of Dallas sought out a third party management team to expand the vision for the park by creating greater community access, providing more park-like features for the surrounding neighborhood, greatly improving park use and programming, and providing for the preservation and restoration of the important historic buildings. The result was an October 2018 contract with Fair Park First, a new organization assembled specifically to address these needs at the park.
Norman Alston, FAIA is a member of the board of directors for Fair Park First and will be guiding the facilities and historic preservation activities at this irreplaceable complex.
Norman Alston named to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.
Designed by prolific architect J. Riely Gordon, the 1896 courthouse was awarded restoration funds in the first round of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.
Restoration work included substantial reconstruction of the Courtroom where the balcony and all historic woodwork had been removed, requiring extensive research of on-site conditions and at other Gordon-designed courthouses contemporary to Erath County's.
You can also see information about the courthouse and its environs at 254Texascourthouses.net, here.
2001
Waco, Texas
This industrial complex started in 1919 at the Texas Textile Mills, growing over the years and eventually being converted to church furniture manufacturing by the L.L. Sams Company in 1944. Following Sam's relocation to a new facility, the complex was converted into a unique multifamily project adjacent to the Baylor University campus.
2001
Rehabilitation Honor Award 2003, Preservation Texas
Historic Tax Credits
The house was completed in 1922 for the family of Joseph Parks, a prominent Dallas businessman. Upon his death in 1957, the property was sold and converted to a YMCA, which retained much of the original house and added a sizeable addition. When the Y moved to new quarters in 1999, the house was sold and underwent a long but unsuccessful effort to convert it back to a family home.
Sold again, the new owners, Tom and Kathi Lind, retained Norman Alston Architects in a new restoration effort. Remaining historic fabric was restored and missing architectural elements were reconstructed. Research on the original conditions included conversations with Frances Parks Raines, surviving daughter of Joseph and his wife, Lucy. She was born in the year the house was completed and grew up within. The last photos in this set show a photo taken of Frances with her best friend about 1930, and a recreation of that photo with those same girls shortly after completion of the restoration.
2009
Historic Restoration Award 2010, Preservation Texas
Preservation Achievement Award 2009, Preservation Dallas
Dallas
The pergola was a central feature of the park dedicated to Elizabeth Kiest, wife of Dallas Times Herald publisher Edwin Kiest. Constructed as a Works Progress Administration project in 1934, it had deteriorated by the 1980'sto the point that only the paving remained. Local neighbors with memory of the Pergola worked with the City of Dallas to have the pergola rebuilt.
Using historic photos and design drawings, Norman Alston Architects guided the design efforts to faithfully reconstruct the Pergola.
2013
Preservation Honor Award 2015, Preservation Texas
Gail Thoma Patterson Award 2015, Preservation Dallas
Norman Alston Architects is proud to have been selected by the Texas General Land Office to assist with the sensitive installation of long-needed interactive, educational electronic signage at the Alamo.
This project is in progress.
Dallas
Sears' first distribution facility outside of Chicago, the complex grew from its initial 1910 building to be over a million square feet by the time Sears sold the property in the mid-1990's. The new owners made a major commitment to the redevelopment of the surrounding Cedars neighborhood by converting it to a mixed use facility with more than 450 apartments and 80,000 square feet of commercial space.
Norman Alston Architects directed exterior restoration as well as general preservation consulting on the interior.
Prime Architects: McCasland Cowden Architects
2001
Preservation Achievement Award 2004, Preservation Dallas
Best Rehabilitation Award 2002, Texas Downtown Association
Economic Development Award 2002, International Downtown Assoc.
Lockhart, Texas
The Clark Library is Texas' oldest continually operating public library, a distinction that motivated the citizens of Lockhart to pursue growth options that kept the library in its original 1899 building. The answer was to expand into the adjacent, 3 story Masonic Lodge Building.
Norman Alston Architects initially served as the City's project manager for Phase i, which restored the original Clark Library and expanded into the Masonic's Ground Floor. For Phase II, the firm provided architectural services to further expand the library into the 2nd Floor and creating a new City Council chambers on the 3rd Floor.
2014
Dallas
Originally constructed in 1912 as the headquarters of the Dallas Coffin Company, the building enjoyed a long history as a regional one-stop shop for all funerary needs, from hearses to sundries. Adjacent to the enormous Sear Catalog Distribution Center, the building was eventually acquired by Sears. Empty for a number of years, it has been re-imagined as a boutique hotel.
Norman Alston Architects served as historic preservation consultant to the design architects and authored the successful nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
Design Architect: 5g Studio of Dallas
2012
Preservation Achievement Award 2013, Preservation Dallas
Historic Tax Credits
Listing on the National Register of Historic Places
Dallas
With the major expansion of the Sear's Catalog Distribution Center in 1913, this building was built to serve as the retail outlet. It served many purposes over the years, most recently as the facility lunchroom. This project restored the building to house a new saving and load tenant.
2003
Preservation Achievement Award 2004, Preservation Dallas
Historic Tax Credits
Fair Park National Historic Landmark, Dallas
This house was one of four "Homes of the Future" constructed for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. It is one of only two that remain at Fair Park. Highly deteriorated, the house had been most recently used for gardening storage by the adjacentDallas Civic Garden Center. Restoration was initially begun as a Texas Sesquicentennial project by the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Following a lag in the project's design, it was completed by Norman Alston and was his first venture into historic preservation.
1990
Austin
Susanna Dickinson was the wife of Capt. Almaron Dickinson, commander of artillery for the Texian forces at the Alamo. She and her infant daughter were among the very few Anglo survivors of the Alamo and were eventually released by Santa Anna to deliver a message to Sam Houston. She eventually remarried and settled in Austin where she resided in this, her last known residence, in 1865. History had lost track of this fact and the house was being used for a barbecue restaurant until it was discovered while preparing the downtown Austin site for the construction of a new hotel.
Norman Alston Architects were retained to assist in relocating this important historic structure to a new downtown Austin location. The all-stone building was required to be moved intact to a new foundation designed by the design team.
2003
Federal and State historic tax credits are a powerful economic tool that are used across the country, and which are especially popular in Texas. This report, recently released by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, describes this impact in Texas and provides a number of examples of the success of this program. It is intended to spread awareness of the value of this program. You can download this report from the National Trust's website at this location.
Norman Alston Architects has led the tax credit process on a number of these projects. We are especially pleased to see the Settles Hotel project featured in this publication.
Roanoke, Texas
Constructed in 1886, this building served as the focus of downtown Roanoke for decades despite its colorful and varied history. The building was in dire condition when it was targeted for restoration by the City of Roanoke. It now serves as the City's museum and Visitors Center.
Norman Alston Architects provided historic preservation consulting to the design architect, including detailing of all the missing wooden components of the doors and windows.
RGA Associates, Roanoke, Design Architects.
2006
Historic Rehabilitation Award 2008
Preservation Texas
Best Restoration Award 2008
Texas Downtown Association
Dallas
Norman Alston Architects directed the restoration of the steeple of this prominent 1956 church. He has also assisted with the addition of an elevator and is currently working on a small addition to the Sanctuary.
2001 - Present
Harlingen, Texas
Long unused even though located in the heart of downtown Harlingen, the building is being studied for renovation as a mixed use facility with 7 floors of apartments.
2015
Project is in progress
Historic Tax Credits
Downtown Houston
The 1927 Petroleum Building is a Mayan influenced, 21 story office tower. It was conceived by prominent Houston oilman Joseph S. Cullinan as an opportunity to bring under a single roof a number of companies involved in the still new, burgeoning petroleum industry near the Texas coast. The building remains especially distinctive for its use of a Mayan motif.
Norman Alston Architects provided historic preservation consulting services to an effort to remake the building as primarily multi-family. Successful Parts 1 and Parts 2 were in place before the building was sold for alternative redevelopment as a hotel by a different design team.
2015
Historic Tax Credits
Marshall, Texas
This early 20th Century building was restored to provide 3 residential condo's upstairs and commercial space downstairs.
2009
Dallas
The 1903 Hughes Brothers Manufacturing Building in the Cedars Neighborhood of Dallas was built as a manufacturing plant for vinegar, baking soda, preserves, jellies and candy. The Hughes Brothers Company occupied the building until 1938, then in 1941 the Gulf Cone Company moved its operations into the building, and manufactured ice cream cones at the facility until the late 1990s.
Now abandoned Norman Alston Architects has developed an historically appropriate design that converts the building to multi-family.
Project is in progress
Historic Tax Credits
Fairfield, Texas
Constructed in 1919, this is the fourth courthouse to serve Freestone County. Norman Alston Architects provided general restoration guidance, including repair of deteriorated columns, repair and repointing of brick and restoration of windows.
1996
Palestine, Texas
Constructed in 1905 by prominent local businessmen Congressman Alexander W. Gregg, Dr. Edwin W. Link, and Judge John Link, the upper floors were used for offices, while the ground level was occupied by a number of businesses over the years, including including a saddlery, a tin shop, a grocery and a restaurant. New plans will retain a similar business mix.
This project is in progress
Fairfield, Texas
The house was constructed in 1860 by W. L. Moody, who is better known for his business success and philanthropy in Galveston. Constructed in 1860 for his bride, Phereby Elizabeth Bradley, the house was sold to his wife's family when Moody moved his family to Galveston in 1866. The house is now owned and maintained by the Fairfield History Club.
Norman Alston Architects assisted in determining the cause and solution to significant moisture infiltration problems and the related restoration of some of the exterior porches.
2003
Jefferson, Texas
Sagamore Cottage was constructed in 1852 by Henry Scott, partner in the first commercial ice plant in Texas. In 1956, the house was included in the book Early Texas Homes by Dorothy Bracken and Maurine Redway (Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas) and was virtually unchanged from the descriptions in the book by the beginning of restoration in 1993. Norman Alston Architects directed a full restoration.
1994
Jefferson, Texas
All new construction in a style that is compatible with the neo-classical architectural influences that are common in Jefferson, Texas. The new house shares the site with the 1852 Sagamore Cottage and serves as the weekend residence for the owners. A small house of less than 1,000 square feet, it nonetheless expresses common architectural practices of the 19th century with a mostly symmetrical plan organized around a central hall.
1993
Braggs, Oklahoma
2008
Camp Gruber is an Oklahoma National Guard training facility constructed at the beginning of the Second World War. The adjacent Greenleaf State Park was built in the 1930s by the CCC, WPA and later maintained by German prisoners-of-war. The two entities are almost seamlessly connected and also include the historic Pray Ranch which contributes several historic agricultural buildings to the collection. As a subcontractor to Lopez-Garcia of Dallas, Norman Alston Architects conducted condition assessments on a number of historic buildings across both facilities and provided detailed recommendations for repair and maintenance of historic wood windows.
Cleburne, Texas
One of only a dozen historic Carnegie Libraries remaining in Texas, the present day Layland Museum was completed in 1904 and houses the extensive collection of one of Cleburne's most interesting and colorful citizens. It is the centerpiece of the museum's collection of in-situ historic buildings, which includes the 1869 Doty-Fullerton House, a circa 1914 downtown commercial building and a 1949 railroad caboose. Norman Alston Architects has provided advice and consultation on a wide variety of issues for the Layland Museum, including:
Condition Assessment of all Facilitities
Master Planning
Structural Repairs
Window and Door Restoration
Interior Restoration
Emergency Masonry Repair
Lighting Design
Exhibit Planning, Design & Construction
Temporary Collections Care Facilities Design
On-going Maintenance
Fundraising
Cleburne, Texas
1996
Part of the Layland Museum, the Smith History Center serves as the primary collections care and storage facility for the considerable collection of artifacts of the Layland. It also includes teaching and demonstration space, as well as an exhibit on the impact of the automobile on American homelife. Originally built in 1914, the building began as a grocery, but was utilized in subsequent years as a car dealer or repair shop.
Norman Alston Architects provided the initial planning for the building's use and some restoration and maintenance guidance prior to restoration.
Near Mexia, Texas
2014
On the edge of the Navasota River, Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site commemorates a place where Confederate Civil War veterans and families reunited from 1889–1946. Today, it remains a gathering place for living history events and family reunions.
Dal-Tech Engineering of Dallas was engaged to undertake repair or restoration of a number of landscape features at the site. Norman Alston Architects served as subcontractor to provide condition assessment and to lead restoration of architectural features at the site, including the Colonel Humphreys Arch and Springs area.
Taos, New Mexico
2009
Known today to Taoseños as the “Old Holy Cross Hospital,” the adobe building began as a gift from influential Taos literary figure and patroness of the arts, Mabel Dodge Luhan, to her son, John Ganson Evans, and his new wife. Begun in 1926, the building was then known as “La Posta.” So named for the wooden post that extends from the first floor through the second story roof, this post is thought to be a remnant from an old post house (or livery stable) that stood on the property. By 1937, the house was in the possession of the local archdiocese and was converted to a 10 bed hospital.
Norman Alston Architects consulted on the preservation of the historic adobe building in preparation for a conversion to multi-family and prepared both a Part 1 Federal historic tax credit application and a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
Jefferson, Texas
2001
The popular story contends that the current courthouse, constructed in 1913, was originally planned for Roberts County in the Texas Panhandle. After letting the contract for construction, Roberts County realized that the courthouse would be much too larger for their needs. The materials had already been paid for and were in transit, but the contractor was able to sell much of the "excess" material to Marion County for their new courthouse. Today, the Marion and Roberts County Courthouses stand as almost identical buildings.
Norman Alston Architects prepared an approved preservation master plan as prescribed by the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.