Dream Center Dallas
Dallas, Texas
2025 HISTORIC REHABILITATION AWARD
Dream Center Dallas is located in the historic Gospel Lighthouse Church. Completed in 1950, this three-story limestone-clad church building with its distinctive round shape and Modern Classical ornamentation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Reverend J.C. Hibbard in collaboration with Christensen & Christensen Architects, and was built largely by members of the congregation themselves.
At its height, the Gospel Lighthouse Church served more than 2,000 members, becoming one of the most prominent Pentecostal congregations in the Southwest. Reverend Hibbard’s sermons reached far beyond Dallas—broadcast nationwide over the radio—and the church offered critical community support to families across North Texas.
However, after being vacant for several years, the church was in need of several repairs and improvements. The 2023 rehabilitation project addressed both the architectural and functional needs of the building. The limestone veneer exterior was cleaned and stabilized, windows were repaired, new exterior lighting was installed, and the roofing was fully replaced.
Inside the auditorium, the original coved ceiling was restored, non-historic decorative additions were removed, and new seating, lighting, and modern sound equipment were installed. Throughout the process, the project team navigated several challenges. Demolition revealed concealed historic elements that required careful evaluation and coordination with the Texas Historical Commission. The auditorium required extensive scaffolding for ceiling work, and the mechanical systems had to be re-engineered mid-construction as new conditions were uncovered.
In addition, a new elevator now connects all three floors, and restrooms were reconfigured to meet modern accessibility standards. And in the basement, former prayer rooms were refinished and repurposed into classrooms and meeting spaces.
Updates were integrated with sensitivity and sustainability in mind, including LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and durable finishes that will stand up to decades of community use.
Today, the building once again fulfills its original function—it houses a church that serves others. Now home to Dream Center Dallas, this revitalized landmark provides critical outreach services, from food distribution and education programs, home repair assistance, and seasonal aid for families in need. Its owner, Church Eleven32, is committed to the ongoing preservation of the building—maintaining it not just as a monument to the past, but as a vessel for hope and service in the present.
The award was presented at Preservation Texas’s 2025 Honor Award Ceremony in San Antonio on October 30, 2025.
Owner: Church Eleven32
Architect: Jennifer Picquet-Reyes, Merriman Anderson Architects
Engineers: Summit Consultants (MEP); JQ Engineering (Civil / Structural)
Contractor: Phoenix 1 Restoration & Construction, LLC
