The prestigious honors are being bestowed upon the city'stransportation authority and lead architect Robert Adams for the$1.4-million restoration of the 5,000-sf Grand Hall and ladies'waiting room in the 1931 Texas and Pacific Passenger Terminal. Theremainder of the building is being restored and converted into thefour-star, railroad-theme Renaissance Plaza, a $50-million hotelproject being undertaken by Renaissance Development Co.

A public-private teaming has the hall, waiting room andrestrooms under the ownership of the Ft. Worth TransportationAuthority while the bulk of the 12-story structure belongs toRenaissance Development Co., an investment group headed by TomBlanton and Ed Casebier. Minority owner Halden Conner bought theproperty in 1978 and sold it last year to the developer.

"There's no question it's the most outstanding art deco buildingin the city," Libby Willis, Historic Ft. Worth's executive directortells GlobeSt.com. "The fact that the transportation authority tookit on was outstanding. It's deserving of recognition."