Parkhill Design Awards Recognize Excellence in Design and Client Experience

Parkhill’s Design Awards are an annual celebration of design excellence and part of our firm’s continuing growth, professionalism, and strategic focus, “Excellence in Design and Client Experience." These awards recognize diverse practices, built and unbuilt designs, and unique details of projects that each demonstrate expertise and community impact.

Out of 48 submissions overall, nine projects were recognized relating to seven different firm practices. Congratulations to all! 

2023 Excellence in Architecture

Molsen Farm – Allen, Texas

Honor Award

Landscape Architecture

Molsen Farm has been recognized for landscape architectural design with an Honor Award as part of the 2023 Parkhill Design Awards.

The initial goals of this project were to connect the site to the existing Rowlett Creek Trail System and preserve the native pecan tree grove, riparian forest area, tree allee entry drive, and two existing ponds. The design team decided to use four existing treelined pastures as “outdoor rooms” that each accommodate various elements of the site programming. The outdoor areas can be closed off if needed for private events or for the Forestry Department’s use without shutting down the farm to the public. In addition, Parkhill incorporated designs for an educational facility, a maintenance facility, a City Forestry Department tree farm, a community garden, space for public and private events, farmers markets, and day camping opportunities for local scout groups. 

Amarillo College Innovation Outpost – Amarillo, Texas

Honor Award

Higher Education

The Amarillo College Innovation Outpost has been distinguished with an Honor Award recognizing the work of the Higher Education Practice.

The Innovation Outpost located in Downtown Amarillo was created as an innovation center for Amarillo College as well as the surrounding Amarillo community. As part of the 2018-2019 Campus Master Plan, Parkhill converted an existing building into a dynamic facility equipped with a commons area, multipurpose industrial training work bays, a central Industrial Design Lab, and shell space for a third-party digital post-production media lab. The building’s design was inspired by heavy industry and technology and incorporated relics that reflect the industrial history of Downtown Amarillo.   

Friona ISD Friona Primary School – Friona, Texas

Honor Award

Interiors

The Friona ISD Friona Primary School has been recognized with an Honor Award for the outstanding work of the Planning and Interiors Practice.

As part of this project, Parkhill designed award-winning graphics to reflect the community of Friona and the history of Texas. Each Hub area of the school is highlighted in a vibrant color and unique graphics that engage students in educational opportunities and class scavenger hunts. The graphics have become an attraction for Friona Primary and for visitors and alumni who have heard about the project. 

Buddy Holly Hall – Lubbock, Texas

Special Recognition - Divine Detail

Interiors

The Interiors Team has received special recognition for the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts & Sciences Sculptural Bench.

The terraform bench was inspired by patterns in nature and is a contrasting art installation under the grand spiral staircase in the lobby of the performing arts center. The bench was created by Artist Nick O'Donnell using a parametric design, which is shaped by math and geometric formulas.

Dream Park – Fort Worth, Texas

Merit Award

Landscape Architecture

Frank Kent’s Dream Park has been recognized with a Merit Award for the outstanding design expertise of our Landscape Architecture Practice.

This design went above and beyond ADA compliance to bring a higher level of inclusive play to Fort Worth. Over 200,000 people live with disabilities in the area of Tarrant County, and approximately 29,000 Tarrant County students need special education. Play has a crucial role in optimizing growth, learning, and development for children, and this park helps the Fort Worth community accommodate every child and their guardians.

Melissa ISD Championship Center – Melissa, Texas

Merit Award

Interiors

Parkhill’s Interiors Team has been awarded a Merit Award for Melissa ISD Championship Center.

The growth of Melissa ISD and the importance of co-curricular activities for high school students inspired the vision for the Championship Center as part of the Melissa High School Master Plan. The project includes a full-size indoor turf practice field, dressing rooms and lockers for all boys' athletic programs, training and workout facilities, offices, a lecture hall, and a multi-purpose reception space. School spirit is reflected in the bright red graphics, and quality materials were chosen to create a top-notch facility that will support the growth of the district and its co-curricular programs for years to come. 

Abram Street Renovations – Arlington, Texas

Merit Award

Landscape Architecture 

The Abram Street Renovation project has been recognized with a Merit Award for excellence in landscape architecture design.

The Abram Street project is one of the largest street rebuilding projects in Arlington’s history. This one-mile project is viewed as a catalyst for increased retail and business redevelopment in Downtown Arlington. The increased widths for sidewalks, landscape, and lighting improvements were created to increase pedestrian traffic in the area. A plaza area was created at the midpoint of the project surrounding City Hall and can be shut off from vehicle traffic during special events downtown.

ALCON Landscape Master Plan – Fort Worth, Texas

Merit Award

Landscape Architecture

The Landscape Architecture Team has received a Merit Award for the ALCON Landscape Master Plan.

ALCON established a resilient vision for their campus that focuses on an integrated portfolio of non-potable water options for irrigation, conversion of more traditional landscape plantings to native plants and xeriscapes, and the establishment of benchmark irrigation targets for landscapes to serve as benchmarks and key performance indicators for future irrigation consumption reduction. Parkhill conducted an extensive field site assessment to evaluate ALCON’s campus landscape to meet their goals. Key site attributes were categorized and visually mapped to indicate areas of need and focus for the design team with regard to the positive and inviting campus perception among current employees, clients, and visitors.

2023 Excellence in Structural Engineering

ACU Science & Engineering Research Center – Abilene, Texas

Honor Award

MEP/S

The Abilene Christian University Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC) Reactor Trench received an Honor Award for structural engineering excellence.

SERC is a groundbreaking facility that will allow ACU to further cutting-edge nuclear energy research by being one of only 18 university nuclear energy programs in the country. A next-generation molten salt research reactor will be housed in a subterranean trench designed by our Structural Engineering Team. The trench is one of the most important parts of the project and is the heart of research, innovation, experimentation, prototyping, testing, and discovery.