It’s been a big year so far for North Texas, especially when it comes to innovation.

As we wrapped up July, we decided to reflect on the stories behind the people and places that had been grabbing our readers’ attention. From innovative spaces (Quest), to award-winning projects (Harwood’s Rolex Building), to massive expansions (Dallas Makerspace, Rent the Runway), our most popular stories certainly highlighted what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Here’s a roundup of our top 10 most-read stories on dallasinnovates.com for the month of July.

10. Weir’s Plaza Breaks Ground With WeWork and Kirkland & Ellis as Major Tenants

Ground was broken on Monday for the new mixed-used development in the Knox-Henderson area of Dallas. It’s expected to open in November 2021.

Kirkland & Ellis will be anchor tenant in the top three floors of the 12-story office building. [Rendering: GFF]

9. Esports Meets Education: UIL Considers Proposal to Sanction Competitive Gaming in Texas High Schools

Everything is bigger in Texas—including esports. We asked some DFW esports experts to weigh in on how a possible UIL sanction might change the future of the industry in North Texas and beyond.

[Image: Homunkulus28/iStock]

8. Dallas’ Rolex Building Wins ENR’s 2019 Global Best Projects Award in Office Category

Harwood International finished the innovative seven-story “twisted architecture”-style building in 2018 in the Harwood District near downtown Dallas.

The Rolex Building in the Harwood District has a unique twister tower appearance, setting it apart from other office buildings in Dallas. [Photo: Courtesy Harwood International]

7. This Fort Worth Startup Uses At‑Home Lab Kits to Calculate Your Personalized ‘Bloodscore’

A blonde woman. A few drops of blood. Sound slightly familiar? Rachel Miller, the CEO and founder of Bloodscore, has heard it all before—people can’t help but think of Theranos. “And, of course,” she says, “being a blonde female doesn’t help… but that’s where the similarities end.”

[Photo: Courtesy Bloodscore]

6. Historic Preservation: How Bringing New Life to Old Buildings Reaps Rewards

Redevelopment of aging buildings is a risk-reward case study, but for North Texas’ visionary developers who take it on, the rewards of bringing new life to old structures can benefit everyone.

[Photo: Michael Samples]

5. Innovative Spaces: A Walk Through Quest’s Repurposed Corporate Headquarters

Quest connects national clients with zero-waste disposal solutions, and its headquarters in Plano reflect that. It’s all about living the brand—from tables made of tires to a grocery crate conference room, the Quest HQ is filled with artfully sustainable features. Take a look inside.

[Photo: Rachel Walters]

4. North Texas Startups Honored at EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Southwest Awards

The winners were chosen from a pool of 50 finalists, each based on his or her commitment to business and community.

[Photo: Courtesy EY]

3. Rent the Runway’s Largest Fulfillment Center Yet Opens in Arlington

The new center will allow the apparel rental service to provide more inventory and 500 local jobs. Powered by sophisticated automation and a complex back-end system, Rent the Runway is the only company in the world that can process all returns in a zero-day turnaround time.

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, Rent the Runway opened the doors to its new fulfillment center. [Photo: Courtesy Rent the Runway]

2. The Largest Robotics Competition in the World is Returning to Dallas

Dallas is a “hotbed for STEM jobs,” so the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and the Dallas Sports Commission decided to bring the VEX Robotics World Championship back for 2021-2024. Look inside to get a taste of what’s to come.

[Photo: Ken Stanek]

1. The ‘World’s Largest Volunteer-Run Makerspace’ is in Dallas, and it’s Doubling In Size

The nonprofit was “busting at the seams” with members and projects, and decided an expansion was necessary. Check out what’s being built, carved, repurposed, sewn, laser-cut, and more with our tour of the space (and its creators).

[Photo: Rebeca Posadas-Nava]

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