Parkhill Mourns the Passing of Dan Searight, AIA
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our colleague and friend Dan Searight, AIA, RID, LEED AP. He passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Dan joined Parkhill in August 2015 and served as a Senior Designer, providing design direction for a wide range of projects. In every endeavor, he approached his work with curiosity, care, and collaboration — especially valuing research and the creative energy of client and team interactions during the design process.
Some of his more notable projects include: Arlington Active Adult Center (Arlington, TX); Bonton Farms Community Center and Health and Wellness Center (Dallas, TX); City of Allen Molsen Farm Public Park (Allen, TX); the Ellen Noel Museum (Odessa, TX); Lubbock-Cooper High School (Lubbock, TX); Midland Chamber of Commerce (Midland, TX); and XO Marriage Corporate Headquarters (Southlake, TX).
He was particularly proud of his contributions to Bonton Farms, an urban farm and wellness center benefiting one of the city’s most underserved neighborhoods. Dan had been involved with furthering the mission of Bonton Farms since 2020 and has worked to secure pro bono services for the project. Over the years, he has contributed to architectural, master planning, and urban planning design expertise. He also participated in brainstorming solutions designed to make real change in the Bonton neighborhood.
“I received so much more than I gave,” Dan said. “Back when I began with the community, it was a way to understand Dallas and help a friend with his involvement in the community. I met some great folks and was able to give back using my skills as a planner and architect and, of course, to help out the members of this great South Dallas community.”
Throughout his career, Dan served on numerous boards and committees, including the AIA Houston Director of Design, the Abilene Cultural Arts Committee, and the Abilene Urban Design Task Force, among others. He received recognition from organizations such as the AIA, ASID, the American Planning Association, and the Society of Registered Architects.
Dan also contributed to the profession through his writing and teaching. His work appeared in Texas Architect, the Houston Chronicle, and Cite Magazine (published by Rice University School of Architecture). He lectured at the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Abilene Christian University, sharing his deep understanding of design with the next generation.
Dan’s creativity and generous spirit left a lasting mark on colleagues, clients, and the communities he helped shape. His legacy lives through the spaces he designed, the people he mentored, and the ideas he inspired.