A Fort Worth landmark is getting a new name and a $3 million renovation.
Most recently known as the Frost Bank Building and originally as the Overton Park Bank Building, 4200 South Hulen Office Building is the new name of the landmark at the southwest corner of South Hulen and Overton Plaza. The contemporary, triangular-shaped, 122,993 square-foot building features Fort Worth’s only six-story, centralized, well-type atrium, which is capped on the roof by an opaque skylight that spreads natural light from the sixth floor to the atrium lobby.
The owners have invested $3 million in renovating the entrances, lobby, common areas and office space on the first and second floors.
Built by five prominent Fort Worth business and civic leaders in 1981, the original owners of the building were among the founders of Overton Bank and Trust, namely R. Denny Alexander and his late partners, Amon G. Carter Jr., Cass O. Edwards II, Preston M. Geren Jr. and Raymond B. Kelly Jr. They acquired 5.8 acres at the site from the fabled Edwards Ranch and hired one of Texas’s noted architectural firms, Geren Associates, to design the building for the three-year-old bank.
The renovation was completed under the ownership of 4200 S. Hulen Partners L.P., comprised of heirs of the original owners, with Alexander as managing partner. Not only does he manage the ownership of the building, he also offices there.
“Frost Bank’s move-out last March allowed us to make some great renovations,” said Alexander. “For the new name for our building, we decided to focus on its location to make it quick and easy to find. While the building was in good shape, we decided to freshen it up to be more in tune with the times for our tenants, their employees and their clients. We appreciate our tenants’ patience during the renovation.”
Frost Bank moved many operations to the new Frost Tower in downtown Fort Worth last year.
Among the renovations to the 4200 South Hulen building:
• Updates were made to the atrium lobby, first and second floors, entrance vestibules, elevator lobbies and common areas (breakroom and mail center).
• The updated design features included a new modern staircase with clear glass railings and oak handrails in the center of the lobby. The stairway provides additional access between the first and second floors.
• The interior design adds finishes of glass, tile and wood that complement and blend with the existing features of the original architecture.
• Large-scale, light cream and grey porcelain floor tile has replaced the original dark slate floor tile in the atrium lobby.
• First-floor tenant spaces are larger and have new walls of glass and solid glass suite entrance doors facing the atrium lobby.
• New contemporary LED fixtures have been installed throughout the first and second floors.
• Three new digital, touch-screen building directories help visitors locate tenants.
• The postal and Fed Ex service area has been updated.
• Tenants have access to a new breakroom open 24/7 with a state-of-the-art micro market offering hundreds of snacks, fresh food and beverages; coffee, hot chocolate and tea are free.
Interior design consultant for the project was Schwarz-Hanson Architects, and consultant for mechanical engineering was FAI Engineers Inc. Construction contractors were Westbriar Construction, Infinity Mechanical Contractors, Business Flooring Specialists and Ideal Fire and Security.
Amenities include:
• Natural light from the six-story atrium (A renewed recognition of the proven positive effect of natural light on employee morale and productivity is spurring architectural designers and employers to provide what tenants and visitors have enjoyed since the opening of 4200.)
• Three elevators with glass walls with a view of the atrium
• Offices on levels 2–6 served by balcony-style corridors opening onto the atrium
• After-hours card-entry security system and 24/7 video surveillance of entrances
• Lighted underground parking garage for tenants with covered walkway adjoining the tower
• 420 free surface parking spaces
• On-site building management and maintenance
• Convenient access to Southwest Loop 820, I-20, Chisholm Trail Parkway and I-30
• Within walking distance of Overton Park Plaza and Hulen Mall
Tenants
The building served as headquarters for Overton Bank and Trust until the merger of Overton Bank with Frost Bank in 1998. In March 2018, Frost Bank, Frost Wealth Management and Frost Insurance relocated to a new location in downtown Fort Worth. Currently, occupancy is at 78 percent, up from 55 percent when Frost moved in March.
Since March, ten new tenants have signed leases; 24,200 square feet are available for lease. Whit Kelly of Transwestern Companies is leasing agent for 4200 South Hulen Office Building.
To date, 45 tenants employ about 300. The diversified tenant mix — providers of financial, medical, legal, tax and accounting, insurance, investment and counseling services— includes some who have been tenants for more than 30 years such as Cassco Land Co. and RDA Foundation.
Among the tenants is Sue Turnage, Tarrant County market president for Argent Trust Company, who has a history with the building.
Turnage has had an office in 4200 for some 20 years, having previously been executive vice president and regional manager of Frost Bank/Frost Wealth Advisors. In March 2018, she joined Argent Trust Company and established its Fort Worth office at 4200 in July 2018. Argent Trust, a subsidiary of Argent Financial Group based in Ruston, Louisiana. is a provider of fiduciary wealth management services and the largest independent trust company in the southern United States.
“The building ownership is local—and present. Denny Alexander and the other owners care about this property and its tenants,” Turnage said.
Design of the Building
Geren Associates, which was one of the most respected architectural firms in Texas and based in Fort Worth, designed the $10 million office tower. The triangular-shaped structure, encompassing 122,993 square feet, was built of steel and precast white concrete on 5.8 acres. The windows have gray and reflective glass. The building’s timeless contemporary design features a centralized, well-type atrium, which is capped on the roof by an opaque skylight that spreads natural light from the sixth to the first floor creating a pleasant focal courtyard. A lighted underground parking garage for tenants has a covered walkway adjoining the tower; there are 420 free surface parking spaces.
The Fort Worth Chapter of the American Institute of Architects recognized the firm for its design of the building with its 1981 Merit Award. Preston Geren led as project architect, Robert Bradley served as project designer and Walker Construction was the builder.
When asked recently about how he decided to site the building at an angle, Bradley said, “Cass Edwards said, ‘I want to be able to see downtown.’ So, I started out by determining what angle would allow him to look straight downtown.” Regarding the atrium, he said, “Atriums were new then. I like the sense of space of the atrium. It’s like a hotel. I also liked the way the parking garage was tucked in under the hill, under the surface parking lot.”
Besides 4200 South Hulen Office Building, his firm designed many other office buildings such as Burnett Plaza, the Oncor Building and the Oil & Gas Building.
About the Ownership
The 4200 South Hulen Office Building is owned by 4200 S. Hulen Partners, LP, comprised of R. Denny Alexander, managing partner, and heirs of the other original owners.
Alexander is also a trustee of two private family foundations and remains active in the management of other investments. He is trustee emeritus of Texas Christian University, and he has served on numerous corporate and community boards. The Fort Worth native and graduate of Paschal High School holds a BA in economics from Stanford University and an MBA in finance from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He made the varsity golf team at Stanford and is now competing actively in senior amateur golf nationally and internationally.
The other original owners of the building were Amon G. Carter Jr. (1919-1982), publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Cass O. Edwards II (1926-2005), the rancher and businessman who established Cassco Land Co.; Colleen Edwards Geren (1928-2012), sister of Cass O. Edwards II and wife of Preston M. Geren Jr.; Preston M. Geren Jr. (1923-2013), principal of Geren Associates; and Raymond B. Kelly Jr. (1922-2003), an oil and gas producer and investor.