DSGN

Texas Association of Community Development Corporations GREEN+ Session 6⁠ with DSGNer Beth Brant is live tomorrow!⁠
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This session explains how adaptive reuse and building retrofits offer a powerful opportunity to advance both sustainability and affordability by extending the life of existing structures. Participants will learn about evaluation tools such as CARE, which help determine whether reuse or replacement is the most effective approach, while gaining a deeper understanding of how building renovation can support climate goals and strengthens communities.⁠
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💡 Session 6: Renovation & Reuse: The Hidden Power of Existing Buildings⁠
📅 June 9⁠
⏰️ 11am-12:30pm CT⁠
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Hosted on Zoom, just register using this GREEN+ link: https://lnkd.in/gmfH3pb9⁠

Housing shapes more than skylines—it shapes communities.

As cities continue to grow and evolve, thoughtfully designed housing plays an important role in creating walkable neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, and fostering a sense of connection among residents.

We're excited to share new photography of Ammonia Apartments, a project that contributes to the ongoing transformation of its surrounding neighborhood of La Bajada while providing a place for people to call home.

📸Photos by: Charles Davis Smith, FAIA
Interior bedroom: Dallas City Homes

A great fire station is more than an apparatus bay.⁠ 🚒⁠
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It is a workplace, a training facility, a home, and a critical piece of civic infrastructure—all operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.⁠
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From fitness and wellness spaces to operational support areas, living quarters, and resilient building systems, every design decision plays a role in helping firefighters serve their communities safely and effectively.⁠
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Thoughtful design doesn't just support emergency response. It supports the people behind it.⁠
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Thoughtful infill development has the power to strengthen neighborhoods while supporting long-term growth. 🏘️

Through projects like the Dallas City Homes office, 514 N Marsalis, 617 N Tyler, and others, DSGN continues to explore how specialized infill housing and office spaces can respond to Dallas’ evolving Form-Based Code.

Adding to this expertise, working within Historic and Conservation Districts requires a careful balance between preservation and progress. These projects prioritize walkability, context-sensitive design, and stronger connections between buildings, streets, and community life. They demonstrate how new developments can respect neighborhood character while creating opportunities for density, flexibility, and revitalization.

Garden update at the DSGN office🪴🧑‍🌾

Spring has brought a fresh harvest to our garden beds, with homegrown potatoes, asparagus, basil, tomatoes, and squash blossoms all thriving this season.

Gardening is one of the many ways our firm puts sustainability into practice. Encouraging ecological awareness, hands-on learning, and creating a stronger connection to the environments we design for every day. 🌿

The historic Heights Theater, originally built in 1929, was in need of an extensive restoration. DSGN’s mission was to restore the existing façade and key features while returning the building to its original purpose as a performing arts venue.

The theater’s notable Art Deco style guided the design approach, honoring its architectural character and vintage feel while modernizing performance, circulation, and building systems from the inside out.

Completed in 2016, this project marked the beginning of our relationship with Kessler Presents and ongoing work to bring new life to historic live entertainment spaces. 🎙️🎫

Since 2013, DSGN has been a proud participant in the AIA 2030 Commitment, working to create meaningful impact through sustainable architecture. From regularly updating our Sustainability Action Plan to tracking project performance and sharing knowledge with others, sustainability remains central to our practice.

DSGN’s Sustainability Action Plan embeds low-carbon design, electrification, and adaptive reuse into every project from day one. It’s how we create buildings that perform better, last longer, and support healthier, more resilient communities. 🌿

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Highlighting the recently completed Harmony Bank✨⁠🏦⁠
⁠Banking on good design.⁠
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We recently completed the interior finish-out for Harmony Bank’s new location in The Cedars — a space designed to strike the right balance between professionalism and warmth from the moment customers walk through the door.⁠
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Natural daylight washes over the minimalist perforated white stair, drawing the eye — and your feet — upward to the second-level offices. On the ground floor, an open workspace and integrated coffee bar create an environment that feels equally welcoming and productive.⁠
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Great design should work as hard as the people inside it.⁠
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Texas Association of Community Development Corporations GREEN+ sustainability Session #5 is live tomorrow!⁠
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Design smarter from the start. Energy modeling helps architects, engineers, and owners evaluate options, uncover efficiency wins, and make informed decisions early — leading to more affordable, sustainable projects.⁠
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💡 Session 5: Basic Energy Modeling & Why We Do It⁠
📅 May 12 (tomorrow!)⁠
⏰️ 11am-12:30pm CT⁠
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Led by DSGN's Beth Brant, AIA, LEED AP BD + C, LFA; MEPCE's Adam Nemati, PE, RCDD, LEED AP; and Lake Flato's Kate Sector Greg Assoc. AIA, LFA, WELL AP, LEED Green Assoc.⁠
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Hosted on Zoom, just register using this GREEN+ link: https://lnkd.in/gmfH3pb9⁠

We had such a great time at the Preservation Achievement Awards last night!🍾

It’s always meaningful to be recognized by peers for work we care deeply about—especially when that work helps preserve the stories, character, and culture embedded within Dallas’ historic spaces.

Celebrating inside one of our Preservation Achievement Award-winning projects, the Longhorn Ballroom, made the evening even more special.

Here’s to restoring, renovating, and preserving the historic buildings that shape Dallas’ identity.