Mercantile Continental Building

The Mercantile Continental Building is an 11-story office structure in downtown Dallas with stone and tile cladding featuring modernist architectural elements. The structure displays post-war construction practices that were common in commercial development of that era.

The building was designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager for Mercantile National Bank and opened in 1948. A major renovation in 2013 converted the former banking spaces into residential apartments, giving the structure a new purpose.

The exterior displays a large mosaic sculpture by artist Millard Sheets featuring various cultural motifs across its walls. This artistic element shapes the building's visual character and makes it a notable landmark on the street.

The building features four underground parking levels accommodating around 1,250 vehicles, a pioneering underground parking facility for the city. Visitors should note that the interior now primarily contains private residential units with limited public access.

The building housed the first underground parking facility in Dallas, an innovation that became influential for urban development in the city. This concept allowed office buildings to store more vehicles without consuming valuable downtown space.

Location: Texas

Architects: Walter W. Ahlschlager

Official opening: 1948

Floors above the ground: 11

GPS coordinates: 32.78040,-96.79580

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:07