Oak Lawn Place

Oak Lawn Place is North Texas’s first affordable housing development for LGBTQ+ seniors, offering people 55+ a safe, welcoming home and community within walking distance of public transit. Formerly an industrial boat salvage yard, the challenging site is sloped and bisected by a creek, with a cost-prohibitive and unbuildable western half. A C-shaped plan maximizes allowable building volume, optimizes daylighting, and shields an outdoor deck floating above the creek. Black brick cladding references the region’s Blackland Prairie, while proportionally scaled windows and tawny brick complement the neighborhood vernacular. A distinct corner facade, seemingly weightless over glass-enclosed public spaces, defines the primary entrance with colorful metal panels subtly gesturing to the rainbow flag. The design promotes well-being and belonging through custom murals by a local artist and LGBTQ+ community–related artwork curated by the client.

“Projects like this are really challenging. There are always a lot of constraints—budget, site, program—but it’s a really elegant solution to a very common construction typology. It creates spaces that are meaningful and becomes part of the fabric of an otherwise challenging site. It’s a really good example of how you site the building, and how you provide ample daylight and healthy places to live.” —James Timberlake, FAIA

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