Dallas Trade Mart

Dallas Trade Mart. The Dallas Trade Mart is a major exhibition hall and commercial complex located in the Dallas Market Center district. Designed by architect Harwood K. Smith and developed by real estate magnate Trammell Crow, it opened in 1959 as a cornerstone for the wholesale trade industry in the Southwestern United States. The building gained international notoriety when it was the intended destination of President John F. Kennedy's motorcade on the day of his assassination in Dealey Plaza.

History

The concept for the Dallas Trade Mart emerged in the late 1950s as part of a broader vision by Trammell Crow to consolidate Dallas's fragmented wholesale trade into a centralized, modern complex. Its construction was a significant undertaking in the post-war economic boom, supported by the city's powerful business community, including figures like Erik Jonsson of Texas Instruments. Upon its completion, it immediately became a hub for buyers and sellers of furniture, gifts, and apparel, anchoring the larger Dallas Market Center campus. The success of the Mart solidified Dallas's reputation as a leading wholesale distribution center, rivaling other major markets in cities like Atlanta and Chicago.

Architecture

Designed in the International Style by the prominent Dallas firm of Harwood K. Smith, the structure is notable for its expansive, column-free exhibition spaces. The facade features a distinctive curtain wall of glass and aluminum, emphasizing functionality and modern aesthetics. A central, multi-story atrium, crowned by a dramatic hyperbolic paraboloid roof, serves as the building's architectural focal point and primary circulation hub. This innovative design, which allowed for maximum flexible floor space, was widely praised and influenced subsequent convention center architecture across the Sun Belt.

Kennedy assassination

On November 22, 1963, the Dallas Trade Mart was scheduled to host a luncheon speech by President John F. Kennedy during his visit to Texas. Following a motorcade through Downtown Dallas, the President's limousine was to proceed from Dealey Plaza to the Mart. The event was organized by the Dallas Citizens Council, and attendees included local business leaders and politicians like John Connally. After gunfire struck Kennedy and Governor Connally in the plaza, the motorcade diverted to Parkland Memorial Hospital. The uneaten luncheon and prepared podium at the Trade Mart became poignant symbols of the interrupted visit, a scene later examined by the Warren Commission.

Later use and redevelopment

Following the assassination, the Dallas Trade Mart continued its primary function as a wholesale market for decades. In the 1990s, as the wholesale industry evolved, the building underwent significant renovations to adapt to changing retail models. The parent company, Crow Holdings, initiated a major redevelopment plan in the 2010s to repurpose the structure. The project, known as The Market Center, transformed parts of the complex into creative office space, aiming to attract technology and design firms while preserving its historical and architectural significance within the evolving Oak Lawn neighborhood.

In popular culture

The Dallas Trade Mart's association with the Kennedy assassination has cemented its place in American historical narrative and popular culture. It is frequently depicted or referenced in works about the event, such as the film JFK by Oliver Stone and the television miniseries Kennedy. The building serves as a key location in Stephen King's alternate history novel 11/22/63. Its distinctive architecture has also made it a recognizable backdrop in various media portrayals of mid-century Dallas.

Category:Buildings and structures in Dallas Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1959 Category:International Style architecture in Texas