As part of the design team, Bennett Benner Partners is working in conjunction with David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. on a monumental Sundance Square project to design and execute three (five- and six-story) office buildings that frame a plaza with streetscape in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. The firm is working with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects on the plaza.
The three mixed-use buildings provide more than 221,000 square feet of office space and 41,500 square feet of ground floor retail space. Construction of the first two building shells containing boutique-style offices began in April 2012, and a third building, The Cassidy, is currently under construction at the southeast corner of Throckmorton and Third Streets.
This project had long been the vision of Sundance Square and provides downtown Fort Worth with a robust influx of rentable space as well as a beautiful plaza. The Commerce Building is five stories with 74,000 square feet, including 17,000 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space. The top floors have access to terraces on two sides of the building. To reflect the style of other Sundance Buildings, the Commerce Building is divided into three parts with the center façade featuring three-story-high arched brick window bays over a brick and granite base.
The Westbrook, sited at 425 Houston St., is approximately 80,000 square feet on six floors, including 12,393 square feet of ground-level retail space. The façade takes inspiration from nearby historic buildings and includes a mix of granite, stone, brick and decorative metal panels.
The Cassidy (approximately 87,000 square feet) is divided into three unique façades, including 12,196 square feet of retail space and six penthouse apartments with terraces that connect to the Sanger Lofts Building.
Featuring highly detailed finishes and architecture, the buildings align with the traditional style dominating Downtown Fort Worth and enhance the existing style, character and ambiance of Sundance Square. The design preserves two historic buildings, the Jett Building and the Land Title Building, and frames a streetscape and plaza the size of one city block, which bisects Main Street. The buildings have entrances on the Plaza sides and the street sides. The Westbrook has a permanent stage to serve as a backdrop for a variety of events.