General Info

Datum was founded in Dallas in 1937 by Mr. Frank Chappell, a much-admired engineer whose works included the 3525 Turtle Creek Apartments, the General Services Administration Building, and the Cotton Bowl, among several other buildings at Fair Park.In 1963, a very young Thomas Taylor took over operations of the firm and began to build on Mr. Chappell's legacy. Under Mr. Taylor's leadership, Datum has grown into a regional leader in structural engineering, with a reputation for tackling technically complex projects, providing outstanding, client-focused service, and innovative design solutions. But passion for design and architecture " the "Art of Structural Engineering"has been Mr. Taylor's signature. Projects such as Thanksgiving Square, the Ballpark at Arlington, the Chapel of St. Ignatius, EDS Headquarters, and the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank have become Datum's signature works.In 2004, six Datum employees with a combined 128 years of tenure with the firm became new principals under the beginnings of an ownership transition plan which includes Mr. Taylor. The transition ensures the future of the firm for two more generations, and allows Mr. Taylor to focus on continuing to provide design guidance in his role as chief design engineer.Datum remains committed to building on our legacy of design excellence, cultivating a passion for architecture, and practicing the Art of Structural Engineering.