Downtown Dallas’ Cultural Cornerstone
In 2004, Headington Companies acquired a historic Neo-Gothic bank building on a deserted block of Main Street with the vision of revitalizing the city’s urban core through unique dining, shopping, and hospitality developments. Built in the 1920s, the landmark building at 1530 Main was originally the Dallas National Bank and dominated the downtown skyline during Dallas’ banking and West Texas oil boom era. Recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as one of the city’s finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture, the building underwent a series of renovations to transform the vacant structure into a Forbes Four-Star boutique hotel featuring a museum-caliber art collection. Named after the international unit of energy, The Joule officially opened in 2008, injecting new vibrancy into the district and expanding over subsequent years as adjacent properties became available.
Like all Headington Companies projects, The Joule demonstrates a commitment to immersive design, placemaking, historic preservation, urban development, public art, and long-term investments that create enduring value for the community. More than a hotel, The Joule is a destination within a destination—a vibrant hub of art, design, wellness, culinary exploration, nightlife, and culture, all under one roof. Each outlet, from The Spa to retail and dining destinations, maintains its own distinct identity while contributing to the holistic guest experience.
Art in our DNA
Art is ingrained in The Joule’s DNA. The hotel features over 70 large-scale mosaics by mid-century artist Millard Sheets, salvaged from downtown’s former Mercantile Building and meticulously restored by Tim Headington in 2012. The collection also includes works by Tony Tasset, Richard Phillips, Erika Verzutti, Roger Hiorns, Mungo Thomson, Mindy Shapero, Eileen Quinlan, and Ryan Mosley. Tasset’s 30-foot-tall Eye, located directly across from The Joule, serves as a landmark sculpture and anchors the hotel’s outdoor event space. The lobby, positioned between Main and Commerce Streets, is a vibrant hub with multiple restaurants, retail boutiques, a coffee shop, and a lobby bar, designed to foster connection and social engagement.
A New Era of Stay
The Joule boasts 160 guest rooms, including 27 suites and four penthouse suites up to 2,500 square feet. In September 2025, the hotel unveiled a comprehensive reimagining of its West Tower guestrooms by award-winning Tihany Design. More than 100 rooms were transformed with lighter, brighter interiors, modern furnishings, and a refined palette of creams, blues, and greens. Custom European walnut paneling, velvet and leather furnishings, geometric carpets, and bespoke furniture create a residential, artful environment, complemented by black-and-white photographic diptychs by Bram Tihany. These renovations follow prior enhancements to the ballroom level and spa, underscoring the hotel’s commitment to evolving luxury and guest experience.
As part of The Joule’s physical renovation, the hotel has reimagined the guest journey from arrival to departure, introducing fresh and memorable moments at every step. Guests now enjoy Byredo bath products in Gypsy Water and have the option to enhance their stay with in-room wellness experiences—simply by calling the concierge to request indulgences like a 111SKIN Eye Mask.
Destination within a Destination
The Joule features two signature restaurants, Sassetta and CBD Provisions (closed for renovations until early 2026), a cantilevered rooftop pool, an award-winning subterranean cocktail lounge, coffee shop, retail boutiques, the #1 rated Spa in Texas, and more. In 2023, the ballroom level underwent a full transformation, modernizing its event spaces with brighter, contemporary designs.
Tihany Design’s reimagining of The Joule’s second-floor ballroom level in late 2023 included all 10,200-square-feet of event space featuring three ballrooms—the Mosaic, Fortnight, and Praetorian—three meeting rooms, and a pre-function area, ideal for corporate events, weddings, and galas. Corridors offer floor-to-ceiling views of downtown and were upgraded with iridescent wallcoverings and handmade cork wallpaper, while the ballrooms are adorned with luminous fabric, custom-designed chandeliers, and furnishings. With more than 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space—including a rooftop terrace and penthouse suites—The Joule offers full-service event planning, personalized menus, and technical integration with A/V systems, projectors, and onsite IT support, creating a premier destination for both leisure and corporate gatherings.
The Spa was also refreshed by Tihany Design in 2024, including a new express facial bar and updated lobby and retail areas. Beyond guestrooms, The Joule curates wellness and cultural programming, including Yoga at The Eye, Gua Sha masterclasses, and immersive spa experiences, creating an urban escape with a resort-like sense of wellbeing. To learn more about the hotel, visit us at https://www.thejouledallas.com/
