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  4. Southwest Airlines shows off its unique history and company culture with its corporate office - see inside the company's Texas headquarters

Southwest Airlines shows off its unique history and company culture with its corporate office - see inside the company's Texas headquarters

Southwest Airlines shows off its unique history and company culture with its corporate office - see inside the company's Texas headquarters
LifeThelife1 min read
The Winning Spirit conference roomBOKA Powell
  • Southwest Airlines displays its history and company culture in its corporate office in Dallas, Texas.
  • The company's headquarters feature murals, unique lounges, model aircraft, and old flight attendant uniforms.

Southwest Airlines turned 50 this year, and its long history of humor, hot pants, and unique marketing campaigns has made it a favorite among both leisure and business travelers.

Southwest Airlines turned 50 this year, and its long history of humor, hot pants, and unique marketing campaigns has made it a favorite among both leisure and business travelers.
Southwest Heart One      Southwest Airlines

To celebrate its history, the airline has taken blips of its past and important aspects of its culture and displayed it throughout its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

To celebrate its history, the airline has taken blips of its past and important aspects of its culture and displayed it throughout its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
Southwest corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas      Southwest Airlines

The company has walls lined with photos of special events, murals highlighting important people and moments, and dozens of other small tidbits that tell the company's story.

The company has walls lined with photos of special events, murals highlighting important people and moments, and dozens of other small tidbits that tell the company
Southwest Living Our Legacy wall art      Southwest Airlines

Part of Southwest's interior was envisioned by architecture and design firm Corgan, which worked with over 1,000 employees to choose furniture and create area mock-ups. The result was a vibrant decor that maximized building density without sacrificing the company's employee-focused culture.

Part of Southwest
Big Tee representing Southwest culture      Southwest Airlines

One of the building's biggest displays is the fleet of model aircraft hanging from the ceiling of its main lobby. The planes include the company's original Desert Gold livery, its new Canyon Blue paint scheme, and a slew of its specialty state flag liveries.

One of the building
Southwest headquarters main lobby      Southwest Airlines

Throughout the company's five buildings, memorable photos and memorabilia cover the walls, like Southwest's old Heart logo...

Throughout the company
Old Heart logo and LUV campaign memorabilia      Southwest Airlines

A framed display of nearly 30 heart-shaped bag tags from the 70s...

A framed display of nearly 30 heart-shaped bag tags from the 70s...
Heart-shaped bag tags from the 70s      Southwest Airlines

A collection of pins from Southwest pilots' former employers...

A collection of pins from Southwest pilots
Pilot wings from former employers      Southwest Airlines

And its "50 Years of LUV" logo.

And its "50 Years of LUV" logo.
50 Years of LUV      Southwest Airlines

The buildings also house dozens of conference rooms with unique names that recognize popular Southwest destinations, people, values, and events, like The Winning Spirit.

The buildings also house dozens of conference rooms with unique names that recognize popular Southwest destinations, people, values, and events, like The Winning Spirit.
The Winning Spirit conference room      BOKA Powell

Southwest headquarters overlooks the runway at Dallas Love Field Airport, giving employees the unique opportunity to watch aircraft take off and land from the company's outdoor sitting area, The Deck.

Southwest headquarters overlooks the runway at Dallas Love Field Airport, giving employees the unique opportunity to watch aircraft take off and land from the company
The Deck overlooking Dallas Love Field's runway      Southwest Airlines

The buildings have a handful of employee lounge areas, known as "Culture Centers" that feature unique wall murals and interesting decor, like old cabin seats.

The buildings have a handful of employee lounge areas, known as "Culture Centers" that feature unique wall murals and interesting decor, like old cabin seats.
Southwest culture center      Corgan

Centers are also themed with fun names, like "Observe, Listen, Learn..."

Centers are also themed with fun names, like "Observe, Listen, Learn..."
Observe, Listen, Learn culture center      BOKA Powell

"Go. See. Do..."

"Go. See. Do..."
Go, See, Do culture center      Southwest Airlines

"The Attic..."

"The Attic..."
The Attic culture center      Southwest Airlines

And "Nuts and Bolts."

And "Nuts and Bolts."
Nuts and Bolts culture center      Southwest Airlines

Southwest's Training and Operational Support building, which is home to its training and dispatch centers, features photos from the airline's Triple Crown One aircraft that debuted in 1997. Also on display are the overhead bins from the plane's cabin.

Southwest
Triple Crown display      Southwest Airlines

Triple Crown One was painted to honor the workers who helped Southwest receive five consecutive "Triple Crowns" for on-time performance, baggage handling, and customer service based on DOT data from 1992 to 1996. Each of the 24,113 employee names were etched into the overhead bins that are now on display at headquarters.

Triple Crown One was painted to honor the workers who helped Southwest receive five consecutive "Triple Crowns" for on-time performance, baggage handling, and customer service based on DOT data from 1992 to 1996. Each of the 24,113 employee names were etched into the overhead bins that are now on display at headquarters.
1997 Triple Crown livery      Southwest Airlines

In 2015, the airline recreated the legendary plane with the original Triple Crown livery and the company's new color scheme on the tail.

In 2015, the airline recreated the legendary plane with the original Triple Crown livery and the company
2015 Triple Crown One livery      Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

Also in the TOPS building, which was designed by BOKA Powell, is a giant Southwest model aircraft in the lobby...

Also in the TOPS building, which was designed by BOKA Powell, is a giant Southwest model aircraft in the lobby...
Southwest TOPS lobby      BOKA Powell

A life-size aircraft cabin where flight attendants train...

A life-size aircraft cabin where flight attendants train...
Cabin simulator      Southwest Airlines

An emergency evacuation training center...

An emergency evacuation training center...
Emergency evacuation training center      BOKA Powell

The Network Operations Center where dispatchers and crew schedulers work...

The Network Operations Center where dispatchers and crew schedulers work...
Southwest Network Operations Center      BOKA Powell

A large food court with a number of dining options, like soups, sandwiches, pizza, and a made-to-order grille...

A large food court with a number of dining options, like soups, sandwiches, pizza, and a made-to-order grille...
Southwest food court      BOKA Powell

And a realistic airport experience, which includes a ticket counter, gate area, emergency evacuation center, baggage services office, and jet bridge.

And a realistic airport experience, which includes a ticket counter, gate area, emergency evacuation center, baggage services office, and jet bridge.
Ticket counter and gate training      BOKA Powell

Southwest's corporate buildings have a handful of beautiful murals that tell the story of its people and culture, including information on its founders Herb Kelleher and Rollin King...

Southwest
Southwest's founders Herb Kelleher and Rollin King      Southwest Airlines

Early flight attendants posing with passengers...

Early flight attendants posing with passengers...
Early flight attendants with customers      Southwest Airlines

A button that sounds Southwest founder Herb Kelleher's laugh...

A button that sounds Southwest founder Herb Kelleher
Herb Kelleher's laugh button      Southwest Airlines

A tribute to Kelleher's infamous Malice in Dallas arm-wrestling match...

A tribute to Kelleher
Malice in Dallas artwork in Southwest HQ      Southwest Airlines

A reminder of the airline's purpose...

A reminder of the airline
Southwest media center with purpose displayed on wall      Southwest Airlines

And a dedication to Southwest President Emerita Colleen Barrett, who was an influential figure in creating the company's culture and shaping its renowned "Servant's Heart" customer service strategy.

And a dedication to Southwest President Emerita Colleen Barrett, who was an influential figure in creating the company
Colleen Barrett Servant's Heart tribute      Southwest Airlines

Small relics of Southwest's history are also on display, like mannequins of old flight attendant and pilot uniforms...

Small relics of Southwest
Old uniforms      Southwest Airlines

And a piece of the retired Lone Star One aircraft.

And a piece of the retired Lone Star One aircraft.
Lone Star One skin      Southwest Airlines

Lone Star One debuted in 1990 and was the first of many flagship aircraft Southwest created to honor the states it serves.

Lone Star One debuted in 1990 and was the first of many flagship aircraft Southwest created to honor the states it serves.
1990 Lone Star One      Southwest Airlines

The company's new Lone Star One was unveiled in 2016.

The company
2016 Lone Star One      Southwest Airlines

Also along the walls of Southwest headquarters are unique photo ops for employees, like an aircraft nose...

Also along the walls of Southwest headquarters are unique photo ops for employees, like an aircraft nose...
Plane nose photo op      Southwest Airlines

An engine...

An engine...
Engine photo op      Southwest Airlines

And a flight deck.

And a flight deck.
Flight deck photo op      Southwest Airlines

Southwest prides itself on its eccentric Halloween costumes worn by Southwest's infamous leaders, like Herb Kelleher, Colleen Barrett, and Gary Kelly.

Southwest prides itself on its eccentric Halloween costumes worn by Southwest
Halloween costumes worn by Southwest executives      Southwest Airlines

Southwest executives contribute to the company culture by participating in the annual holiday celebration.

Southwest executives contribute to the company culture by participating in the annual holiday celebration.
CEO Gary Kelly and executives dress up as Star Wars characters for Halloween 2019      Southwest Airlines

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