Dickies Arena
- Fort Worth, Texas725,000 SFBeck – Preconstruction, Construction
Dickies, the 95-year-old clothing company that has been serving the community of Fort Worth with high quality workwear, successfully secured the naming rights to the new $450 million arena located in nonother than Cowtown U.S.A.
The 14,000 seat, $540 million venue came to life in the later part of 2019: thanks to the unique partnership of public and private money and the leadership from a member of one of the most prominent families in North Texas. Ed Bass, Fort Worth billionaire, spearheaded the public-private partnership through his nonprofit and private pockets to fund Dickies Arena; city contributions capped at $225 million with the rest coming from various foundations, individuals, and organizations.
The arena – at the corner of Harley Avenue and Gendy Street – takes a step into the future, while paying homage to the past through the arena’s architecture that mirrors the Will Rogers Auditorium and accompanying tower, including the cupola that will grace the ridgeline of the roof. Attracting 2 million visitors from across the region annually, Beck produced a Texas sized parking garage with six-levels and 2,200-spaces.
Given the parking structure’s large size and prominence to pedestrians/vehicles from all 4 sides, the designers needed a façade that could also mask the structure’s scale: this challenge embedded placement for precast façade and building handrails, removal of existing unknown sit slag and color variation in precast panels. Sitting atop the six-level, 2,200-speace parking garage, is a sale center with models of rodeo boxes and other arena seating.