Mercantile National Bank Building

Mercantile National Bank Building
Mercantile National Bank Building shortly before opening. The distinctive clock tower and spire were added at a later date.
Alternative names	The Merc Mercantile Building
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Residential
Architectural style	Moderne
Location	1800 Main Street Dallas, Texas
Coordinates	32°46′51″N 96°47′49″W / 32.780843°N 96.796808°W / 32.780843; -96.796808Coordinates: 32°46′51″N 96°47′49″W / 32.780843°N 96.796808°W / 32.780843; -96.796808
Completed	1943
Management	Forest City Enterprises
Height
Antenna spire	159.4 m (523 ft)
Roof	131.1 m (430 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	31
Design and construction
Architect	Walter W. Ahlschlager Donald Nelson
References

The Mercantile National Bank Building (known colloquially as The Merc) is a 31-story, 159.4 m (523 ft) skyscraper at 1700 Main Street in the Main Street district of downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the former home of the Mercantile National Bank, which later became MCorp Bank. The design of the skyscraper features Moderne styling from the Art Deco era and was designed by Walter W. Ahlschlager. The building has a series of setbacks that is crowned by an ornamental four-sided clock along with a decorative weather spire. The Merc was the main element of a four-building complex that eventually spanned a full city block.

The site along Ervay Street between Main and Commerce previously housed the landmark Post Office building constructed in 1889 which featured a prominent clock tower and gingerbread architecture. After abandonment, it was the subject of rumors, plans and schemes, but by 1936, it had been declared a liability by local business leaders and was razed.

The Mercantile National Bank Building was completed in 1942 and was the only major skyscraper constructed during World War II. The U.S. government had called for a halt of private construction to fuel supply materials for the war effort. However, most of the tower's steel had been prefabricated and was given a special waiver from the government. The bank lobby Art Deco wood murals were the largest in the world at the time. In addition to the bank and other offices, the federal government took 10 floors to hold offices for various war agencies. Mercantile Bank owner and founder Robert L. Thornton constructed his own penthouse level in the upper floors.

In 1947, an illuminated tower was constructed, which KERA used for radio broadcasts. In 1958, this tower was replaced by the current illumination tower and clock. In the 1960s, the original stone façade at the base of the building was covered by a modernist curtain wall facade.

At its completion, the Merc was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River and it was the tallest building in Dallas until 1954, when Republic Bank Tower I surpassed it. The building has 31 stories, and when the 115 feet (35 m) foot ornamental clock tower is included, is 545 feet (166 m) feet tall; making it the 19th-tallest building in Dallas. It also contains 359,348 square feet (33,385 m²) of floor space.