Banking on the American Dream

Location

Irving

Client

State Bank of Texas

Architect 

Malone Maxwell Dennehy Architects

Contractor

Linbeck

Structural Engineer 

Stenstrom Schneider

MEP Engineer 

V3 Consulting Engineers

Civil Engineer 

Glenn Engineering

Building Envelope

Consultant Curtainwall Design Consulting

AV Consultant

Acuity

Photographer

Dror Baldinger, FAIA

Site Plan

1

STATE BANK OF TEXAS HEADQUARTERS

2

CHRISTUS OFFICE BUILDING

3

SHARED GARAGE BUILDING

4

LAKE CAROLYN CANAL

5

URBAN TOWERS

Located at an unassuming intersection in Las Colinas, the new headquarters of the State Bank of Texas marks the fulfillment of a family dream decades in the making. The bank’s founder, Chan Patel, arrived in the United States in 1965 with little more than his parents’ life savings—$600—to study at Stanford University. After transitioning to Dallas and working as an engineer for Braniff International Airlines, Patel’s entrepreneurial spirit took hold. Inspired by the success of fellow Indian immigrants in California’s hotel industry, he made his first hotel purchase in 1976, eventually expanding his holdings to 17 properties. Over time, Patel realized that many immigrant entrepreneurs faced barriers to obtaining business loans due to cultural differences, prompting him to create a lending institution tailored to the hospitality sector. On October 19, 1987—Black Monday—Patel founded the State Bank of Texas. While the financial world was in turmoil, Patel laid the foundation for what would grow into one of the most successful banks in the United States.

SBT is a transparent, family-focused institution grounded in a deep, hands-on understanding of hospitality operations. Its first home was in the building of a failed bank in Oak Cliff in Dallas. Rather than investing heavily in brick-and-mortar, founder Chan Patel chose to direct capital toward hotel lending—a strategy that paid off. Sushil Patel, Chan’s son and the current CEO, reflects on the bank’s success: “For the last two years, we’ve been ranked number one in the country in terms of bank performance. We’re consistently in the top 10. It’s not something we strive for… but it’s a byproduct of us just doing what we do.” 

Over time, SBT’s outstanding performance made it clear: what began as a small family bank had transformed into a financial institution of significant stature. It was no longer enough to operate out of a modest space; it needed a physical home that on par with its new standing. Sushil Patel first identified the site for what would become SBT’s headquarters in 2016. Situated at the corner of North O’Connor Boulevard and West John Carpenter Freeway, the plot had remained undeveloped for 30 years. This busy intersection is frequently traveled by members of the Patel community—while those with the Patel surname are not necessarily related, they all trace their roots to the same 50-mile region of India or are descendants of those who came from there. Just down the street is the community center frequented by the Patels, home to roughly 1,500 families, many of whom pass by the site after religious and cultural events. Given Chan Patel’s leadership and pioneering role within the community, it was only fitting that SBT’s new headquarters be located here, where it could serve as a literal and symbolic cornerstone of the Patel community.

Designed by Dallas-based Maxwell Malone Dennehy Architects, the 49,000-sf building features a distinctive pentagonal footprint, comprised of a triangular extension to the north and a gently curved facade facing the John Carpenter Freeway to the south. The northwest facade overlooks the Mandalay Canal Walk at Las Colinas. Clad in a glass curtainwall system, Burlington stone, and horizontal aluminum panels, the exterior emphasizes transparency, maximizing visibility throughout. The partially subterranean parking structure is wrapped in a perforated metal grid, and a runnel directs water through the site. As the landscape matures, vines will gradually conceal the parking structure, while the growing trees will provide shade for the ground-level terrace.

LEVEL 1

1

ENTRY PLAZA

2

TERRACE

3

LOBBY

4

GREEN WALL

5

RECEPTION/TELLER

6

BANK OFFICE

7

OPEN OFFICE

8

MANAGER OFFICE

9

WORK ROOM

10

BREAK ROOM

11

MEETING ROOM

12

BANQUET HALL

Section

1

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

2

RECEPTION

3

BOARD ROOM

4

OPEN OFFICE

5

LOBBY

6

TENANT SPACE

7

TERRACE

8

BANQUET HALL

9

PARKING GARAGE

10

CANAL

The material palette is simple, exquisite, and impeccably detailed. “We wanted to convey the quality, integrity, and permanence of the building,” explains Sushil Patel. “If we had used stucco or fake stone, it would have come through in the building—people might not be able to pinpoint it, but they’d sense it. Here, visitors can walk through and immediately know this is the real deal.” Paul Dennehy, FAIA, a principal at MMD, adds, “The commitment to the honesty of materials—the stone, wood—is evident. It’s not something cheap that will age quickly. It’s a commitment to quality and reflects the family’s values.”

The main entrance is situated at the eastern end of the building. For both the exterior cladding and interior flooring, two types of Burlington stone products—sourced from the same English Lake District quarries used by the Romans—were chosen, ensuring a subtle coherence throughout the entire project. The stone panels are arranged in an intricate pattern based on the Golden Ratio, demanding meticulous attention to detail in their installation. Insulated glass units and bands of fritting strategically placed along the glazing help reduce solar radiation to an optimal level, without compromising the building’s transparency.

The building’s interiors are where the design truly comes to life. Upon entry, visitors are welcomed by a striking double-height lobby that evokes the spirit of midcentury Scandinavian design, drawing clear inspiration from masters like Alvar Aalto. Light, natural materials dominate the space, with Canadian maple used prominently throughout, and the soft, curved forms and gentle, rounded corners creating a sense of warmth and flow. The columns are especially unique, taking a lenticular form with cut-out ends in plan, their verticality accentuated by a rhythmic repetition of vertical wooden slats. Dark gray Burlington stone flooring anchors the otherwise luminous space, offering a grounding contrast. 

“This building could easily last 100 years with just normal maintenance. The level of material integrity is just outrageous,” says MMD principal Michael Malone, FAIA. “It was really a pleasure to work at that level because you don’t always to get to do that.” At the heart of the lobby, the organically shaped bank teller desk is clad in Carrara marble, while behind it, maple wood fins are cut and arranged to form the bank’s logo. The space is further enlivened by a living green wall, complete with a drip irrigation system that helps purify the air while strengthening the connection to the natural environment outside. 

The bank branch offices are discreetly located behind the teller desk, while the rest of the ground floor remains flexible, with a portion reserved for future build-out of a banquet hall with a commercial kitchen for community events. A striking family wall, adorned with video screens and historic documents, serves as a focal point. The custom carpets designed in collaboration with Scott Group seamlessly bridge the tones of the floor and wood, visually unifying the space. The real handwringer of the project, however, lay in the subtle curve of the southern part of the building, which required meticulous adjustments to the stonework and carpeting, ensuring the surfaces aligned perfectly along the splay.

A trio of white artichoke pendants hovers above a 3/8”-thick blackened steel staircase, seamlessly connecting the ground floor with the floors above. The second floor is primarily designated for future tenant spaces, while the third floor accommodates the majority of staff offices. This open-plan office features workstations along glass curtain walls and glass-fronted offices at the interior. The workstations are Knoll systems outfitted with sit-stand desks and frosted glass panels to provide privacy while allowing natural light to filter through. Conference rooms are strategically distributed throughout the floor, and the break room’s northeast-facing balcony provides a relaxing outdoor seating area.

The design language and material palette of the building carry seamlessly into the fourth floor, home to the executive offices and boardroom. The lightness and transparency of these spaces create a sense of effortless uplift, as if ready to take flight. The ceiling above the central corridor is dropped before gradually rising toward the glass curtain wall, enhancing the airy, loft-like atmosphere. Glass partitions define the spaces, while maple millwork behind desks offers privacy between offices without compromising the sense of openness.

The executive conference room is a notable achievement in design, distinguished by its unique triangular shape. From a practical perspective, it offers ample space to accommodate the entire board, predominantly made up of extended family members. At its center is an expansive, custom triangular table designed by the architects to seat the entire board. The concealed steel base offers robust support for the massive, cantilevered Carrara marble tabletop, which is both a functional centerpiece and a masterwork of design. Its precisely incised edge adds a sense of lightness to an otherwise substantial piece of furniture. Linear strip lighting reinforces the room’s modern design language, while cove lighting casts a soft, atmospheric glow along the walls. “We don’t get to do this on all our projects, but the projects where we get to literally touch everything is pretty special,” says MMD principal Audrey Maxwell, AIA. “That’s why the building looks the way it does. Every inch of it was coordinated.”

The new headquarters of the State Bank of Texas stands as a powerful testament to the vision, perseverance, and values of the Patel family. From Chan Patel’s humble beginnings to his pioneering role in creating a bank that caters to immigrant entrepreneurs, the institution’s growth mirrors his dedication to community and quality. The design of the building—rooted in integrity, transparency, and timeless materials—reflects both the bank’s strong foundation and its ambitious future. Serving as both a functional space for banking operations and a symbolic cornerstone for the Patel community, the headquarters is a legacy built to endure for generations.