Love is in the Air at XO Marriage Center

L is for the look of mid-century modern. 

O is for the only center of its kind. 

V is very, very extraordinary!

E is even more ministry and happy couples. 

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day, and it’s also under construction at the site of the XO Marriage Center, an organization with a mission to celebrate and support love year-round. XO Marriage was founded by Jimmy Evans, President of XO Marriage, and has offered Christian marriage counseling services and educational resources, including conferences and podcasts, for 30 years. 

“The love we bring into the design of the building will allow couples to create memories, strengthen relationships, and build a strong community,” said Shahnaz Talukder, Parkhill Project Manager. 

For the first time, the ministry will have a permanent home at the XO Marriage Center located on the new Gateway Church Southlake Campus Expansion in Southlake, Texas, also known as the "Marriage Capital of the World." The building makes a statement located next to Highway 114 in view of travelers driving by each day. 

“Valentines celebrates, in my mind, relationships and the hard work of nurturing the institution of marriage and families,” said Dan Searight, Parkhill Senior Architect. “It appears to me that is how XO exists and thrives. It is a laudable pursuit by the organization and for our society.”

The multi-level project encompasses 32,186 gross square feet and included interior, exterior, and landscape architecture design. On the ground floor, a lobby and café welcome visitors as they enter the building. The Walk of Champions leading up to the building and Wall of Champions lining the lobby honor donors who contributed to making the project a reality. 

A podcast studio located behind a glass wall allows passersby to view episodes being recorded in real-time. There are a variety of podcasts associated with XO Marriage, including the Naked Marriage Podcast hosted by Dave and Ashley Willis. According to the XO Marriage website, this podcast has reached millions of couples worldwide and is one of the top Christian marriage podcasts in the nation.

There is also a large classroom on the ground level that will seat 150 people and a counseling center that will offer private counseling services. A large, landscaped garden and patio border the ground floor of the building. The second level is an entire floor of lease space, and corporate offices occupy the third floor. Design for the project began in 2019, and construction broke ground in 2021. 

“I admire their commitment to marriage and the family,” Dan said, “as well as the support their organization will be able to provide because of the new facility.”