• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • MarketPlace
  • CJCAT
    • From the President
    • From the General Counsel
    • North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
    • South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
    • West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
    • Commissioners Court Conference Calendar
  • Conferences
  • Texas County Directory
    • 2025 Texas County Directory Updates
    • Browse Directory
  • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Subscribe
    • Previous Issues
      • 2023 Previous Issues
      • 2022 Previous Issues
      • 2021 Previous Issues
      • 2020 Previous Issues
      • 2019 Previous Issues
      • 2018 Previous Issues
      • 2017 Previous Issues
      • 2016 Previous Issues
      • 2015 Previous Issues
      • 2014 Previous Issues
  • Home
  • Legislature
  • Monuments of Justice
  • Key Concept
  • Commissioners Court
  • Texas Counties
  • Obituaries
Texas County Progress

Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

Dallas County: Where 1915 Meets the Future

November 11, 2024 by Julie Anderson

By Elba Garcia
Dallas County Commissioner
Guest Columnist

Dallas County is reaping the rewards of a nearly decade-long undertaking that preserved more than 100 years of history, from the courtroom that hosted the trial of one of the most notorious assassins to the death-row location that held public executions.

Preservation Dallas honored Dallas County with the 2024 Preservation Achievement Award for the renovation of the Records Building Complex, which incorporates three historic buildings in downtown Dallas that were constructed separately and asynchronously from 1915 to 1955. One of four Institutional Building Restoration Projects recognized by Preservation Dallas, the $200 million, seven-year renovation is the largest in Texas history for a county government building.

The original facilities catapulted into U.S. history in 1963 as the backdrop of John F. Kennedy’s assassination route. Enveloped by a façade restored to the 1963 era, the remodeled 304,000-square-foot complex houses artifacts and overviews throughout its seven floors, commemorating people and events that made history on its premises. This includes a former courtroom location that held the world-famous, 1964 trial of Jack Ruby for the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald and the location where five criminals were publicly hanged before executions were moved to a state prison in Huntsville.

Spearheading this monumental project as the chair of the Facilities Maintenance Commission was no easy feat. The first step was getting approval for a Building Study Committee to conduct an extensive analysis. The study ended up proving my vision that preserving and renovating, versus building anew, would reduce the annual $100 million deferred maintenance cost of operating these and other Dallas County dilapidated facilities.

Along with a first-class showcasing of rich history, the restored complex provides a state-of-the-art building for conducting business and an incentivizing workplace. Filled with comfortable visitor and work areas, natural lighting, and options for healthy eating and fitness, the Records Building Complex is the first government building in the Lone Star State to earn WELL certification for providing thoughtful and intentional spaces that positively impact well-being and health.

It was equally important to build an environmentally responsible facility. Under my lead, Dallas County had committed to having all of its buildings achieve, at minimum, silver certification in Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. Built with sustainable materials and boasting superior indoor air quality and energy and water efficiency, the Records Building exceeded expectations. A year after occupancy, the U.S. Green Building Council upgraded the facility’s rating to LEED Gold – making it the first building in Dallas County’s history to achieve this certification level.

Today’s Records Building Complex embodies the past, present, and future of Dallas. Built to last at least 100 years, the facility will relay Dallas County’s historic contributions for many generations to come.

Filed Under: Officially Speaking Tagged With: Dallas County, Preservation

Primary Sidebar

Search County Progress

May 2025

May 2025

County Progress May 2025 Issue

If you'd like to view our previous issues, click here.

Commissioners Court Meeting Decorum

Sample Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court

Resolutions

Unfunded Mandate Resolution

The latest resolutions passed by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas and the three Regional Associations are available at the links below.

County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Resolutions 2024

North & East Texas Resolutions 2024 

South Texas Resolutions 2024

West Texas Resolutions 2025

 

Subscribe to County Progress

Subscribe: Newsletter | Magazine | Directory

Connect with us online.

Facebook spacer Twitter spacer LinkedIn spacer Instagram

Footer

Search County Progress

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

County Progress

3457 Curry Lane
Abilene, TX 79606
325.673.4822
countyprogress@zacpubs.com

Categories

© 2025 · Zachry Publications

Cart
  • Your cart is empty! Return to shop
Checkout - $0.00
  • 0
  • 1