Hey y’all! A Texas-sized Hello from AUSTIN!

It’s time to tell you about all the great things happening deep in the heart of Texas. Our Austin office has grown steadily since we first opened our doors in 2018. We started with four pioneers and have flourished into a bustling office with 13 fantastic designers. These last three years have flown by and we cannot hide how exhilarating it has been to establish a practice in one of America’s greatest cities.

We started in Austin with a boutique space on the sixth floor of 800 Brazos Street. It was the perfect place to start our practice here, but it’s time to move into a new space that is over twice as large to accommodate our continued growth. On July 1st we cut the ribbon on the opening of a new Austin Downtown home, located in the historic Norwood Tower at 114 West 7th. We will miss Willie (our favorite doorman of all time) at 800 Brazos, but are thrilled to be in a larger space where we can continue to grow our team and provide design for our clients at the highest level, along with a much improved guest parking experience! We would be lying if we told you we aren’t also excited about Porkchop Fridays at one of our favorite restaurants next door.

Our office has moved to historic Norwood Tower – 114 W 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

As we look forward to a post-pandemic world, we are excited to welcome the four new GFFers we hired during the work-from-home era into the office space. Our workplace culture has been strong throughout and will be elevated by the addition of young talent experiencing our workplace for the first time. Below we offer you the opportunity to get to know our people a little better. We adore all of them and we think you will too!

We are designers committed to excellence for our city and our clients. View the posts below to learn more about the people who make our office a memorable place to work.

As our office continues to grow, so does our ability to do great design work throughout Central Texas. We have had successful projects in Austin, San Antonio, College Station, and many places in between. Jim West, the managing director of our Austin Office, and Associate Sara Good bring time tested leadership to all the work we do, with an emphasis on mixed-use and multifamily residential projects that are adding delightful density to our hip town.

Our Austin team’s recently completed residential work includes Garza Ranch, Heritage Plaza, Magnolia Heights, and Aspen Heights West Campus. Building on GFF’s history of designing stunning luxury automotive facilities, Jaguar-Land Rover of North Austin successfully weaves a beautiful, branded building between gorgeous Live Oak trees. Our church project experience was a differentiator in our being hired to design a unique outdoor venue for Life Austin Church that really came in handy this last year. And our ability to deliver all types of corporate office space made a place for renowned Austin brand YETI in the divine hills of West Austin.

West had this to say about designing in Central Texas.

“Whatever the project type, our team is committed to Creating Memorable Places and delivering the best client experience and end results achievable. The fantastic energy and personality in our office translates directly into design that enhances the human experience and meets the expectations of those that we work for.”

Reach out to us! You’ve heard all about us and now we want to learn more about you and how we can help you realize your vision through powerful, memorable design.

Park Place Volvo

Dallas, Texas

Burgher Haggard Office

Fort Worth, Texas

Austin

With an increasing share of the firm’s workload coming from relationships with Austin-based clients, GFF opened our Austin office in April 2018.

508 Park Avenue

Dallas, Texas

Santasha Hart

Senior Project Coordinator

Hollyann Friloux

Interior Design Professional

Turning On A New Light

We are excited to start 2024 with a new logo, inspired by our new headquarters in the heart of the vibrant Victory Park neighborhood of Dallas. This transition is more than just a change of logo and address; it is an improved reflection of who we are and where we want to go as an industry-leading, design-focused firm.

Planning

Our talented Planning team possesses a deep knowledge of the component building types which comprise livable, walkable, mixed-use developments, and we use our civic relationships effectively as we navigate the entitlement process for our clients.

Alexan Henderson

Dallas, Texas

The Hudson

Dallas, Texas

Portrait of a GFFer: Bryana Cozart

Bryana was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Master of Interior Architecture and Product Design.

CityLine Market

Richardson, Texas

The Mockingbird

Dallas, Texas

So7

Fort Worth, Texas

Christ United Methodist Church

College Station, Texas

St. Andrew Methodist Church – Hasley Chapel

Designed as “a chapel in the woods” overlooking the creek and pond on campus, it is reminiscent of Robert’s beloved Arkansas home.

Weir’s Plaza

Dallas, Texas

Azul

Austin, Texas

John Shiver

Associate Principal + Director of Education Practice

Zoning Cases

At GFF, we have been engaged by clients seeking to secure zoning changes in these areas to create more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable communities.

Tegna

Dallas, Texas

Nardine Mansi

Associate + Senior Project Leader

Stephen Pickard Transitions Into A New Role

Stephen Pickard, FAIA, former Principal-in-Charge of the GFF faith-based and non-profit market sector, including the Church Works studio, transitioned to a different role at the end of 2022.

Cecilia Garcia

Project Coordinator

Shelby Lane

Austin, Texas

Chris Andersen

Associate Principal + Senior Project Leader

Josh Frederick

Associate + Project Leader

Pearl Bee Cave

Bee Cave, Texas

Becca Vahldick

Senior Project Coordinator

Mark Holsinger

Associate Principal + Senior Design Leader

Thomas Castro

Senior Project Coordinator

Cityline

Dallas, Texas

Caruth Properties TOD

Richardson, Texas

Asana Deep Ellum

Dallas, Texas

Nicole Capps

Senior Project Coordinator

Alta Henderson

Dallas, Texas

Arlington Highlands

Arlington, Texas

Multifamily Residential

Our designers strive to create vibrant, pedestrian-oriented residential developments that offer modern living in aesthetically and formally pleasing buildings.

David Anderson

Project Leader

Alejandra Rodriguez

Architectural Professional

Under Construction

The GFF Church Works Studio has been busy working on projects under construction recently.

Farris McNabb

Marketing Leader

Corazon

Austin, Texas

Alta 289

Plano, Texas

Ten50 BBQ

Grapevine, Texas

Tyler Porter

Senior Project Coordinator

Lakeshore

Austin, Texas

Matt Frame

Project Leader

Jason Fedors

Planning Leader

The Container Store

Locations Nationwide

Chad Kyzar

Senior Project Coordinator

Jenna Ross

Interior Design Leader

Marisa Dominguez

Architectural Professional

Construction at Fair Park

GFF currently has two historic preservation projects under construction at Fair Park – the Pan American Arena and the Tower Building.

Amanda Kalescky

Senior Project Coordinator

Sabina

Austin, Texas

Protecting Our Feathered Friends

As cities grow and buildings become taller, the need to protect the earth's bird population is becoming more urgent. Thankfully, there are solutions to mitigate the problem, including guidelines for bird friendly glazing selections and building design features.

Designing Spaces that Reflect Our Clients’ Mission

In honor of Historic Preservation Month, GFF will be a Bronze Sponsor for the 2023 Preservation Dallas Preservation Achievement Awards on May 17th, 2023.

Spanish Fort Container Park

Spanish Fort, Alabama

Heep Ranch

Austin, Texas

Jason Hoyt

Associate + Studio Director

GFF Announces Three New Principals

GFF is excited to announce three new principals as our firm continues to expand its reach and add diversity of expertise and perspective to our Principal team

Historic Preservation / Adaptive Reuse

Committed to the value of historic buildings as a cultural resource, our firm has more than thirty years experience in preserving, restoring and rehabilitating historic buildings

1900 Lofts

Dallas, Texas

VantagePoint Church

Eastvale, California

Ross & Peak

Dallas, Texas

1407 Main Street

Dallas, Texas

Leah Coley

Architectural Professional

Moody Family YMCA

University Park, Texas

Park 17

Dallas, Texas

Sustainability

GFF carefully considers the resources of our clients and our planet to create healthier, higher performing environments.

Hear from our Designers – What’s new in Church Seating?

Furniture for church facilities has shifted in recent years. Here are the trends we are excited about!

Woody Owens

Project Coordinator

Lance Abaya

Associate + Senior Design Leader

Coram Deo Academy

Flower Mound, Texas

Construction at SMU’s Cox School of Business is Underway

The project will fully reconfigure and renovate the existing three buildings, constructing an additional 65,000 SF while increasing the buildings’ overall efficiency.

Harrison Connor

Senior Project Leader

Knox Heights

Dallas, Texas

Lakeline

Austin, Texas

MedAssets

Plano, Texas

Mixed-Use

Our firm is committed to designing contextually appropriate mixed-use projects that add value to the neighborhoods and communities they are specifically designed for.

Ricardo Montoya

Principal + Director of Technical Resources

Lance Braht

Associate Principal + Senior Design Leader

Donald R. Kubala

Associate Principal + Senior Project Leader

Mueller

Austin, Texas

West Love Retail

Dallas, Texas

Honda of Burleson

Burleson, Texas

Shannon Fahey

Senior Office Manager / Accounting Coordinator

Lyra on McKinney

Dallas, Texas

Capital One

Plano, Texas

Cardinal Health

Dallas, Texas

Eric Marquez de la Plata

Senior Project Leader

Automotive

Our automotive team is renown is known for creating stunning spaces for displaying high-end luxury vehicles.

Stephen Pickard

Principal Emeritus

Alta Luna

Farmers Branch, Texas

Pegasus Park

Dallas, Texas

Milestone Church

Keller, Texas

Maureen Hellerstedt

Marketing Professional

Monitronics

Farmers Branch, Texas

Roberto Oviedo

Senior Project Coordinator

Did you know that May is Historic Preservation Month?

In honor of Historic Preservation Month, we would like to highlight some of the historic church projects we have worked on.

It’s the People Who Make the Place / Ricardo Montoya

Ricardo is a licensed architect, Principal and Director of Technical Resources at GFF with experience managing a broad range of project types of various scales.

Woodcreek Church

Richardson, Texas

Architecture’s Balancing Act: Beauty, Function, Cost, and Sustainability

In the world of design, finding the perfect blend of beauty, functionality, cost, and sustainability can be quite a challenge. However, as we celebrate the 2nd annual Earth Week at GFF, we aim to demonstrate that these goals can coexist harmoniously.

Stacy Green

Allen, Texas

K-12 & Higher Education

Our team has a proven track record of guiding institutions through the process of programming, design, and construction to realize their vision, and we have successfully completed projects on 25 different campuses in Texas and beyond.

Maxine Kraft

Design Leader

Retail / Stores & Restaurant

GFF has a deep understanding of the retail and restaurant industry and we bring that knowledge and experience to all our projects.

Architecture

Our decades-long commitment to workplace culture, the enrichment of our cities, and design excellence has earned us numerous accolades, including the prestigious TxA Architecture Firm Award in 2019.

Dallas Academy

Dallas, Texas

Kairoi Belmar Park West

Lakewood, Colorado

The Langford

Dallas, Texas

The Trevor Project

GFF is proud to partner with The Trevor Project to make sure that every LGBTQ young person can live their story of pride fearlessly and authentically.

The Alton

Dallas, Texas

West 7th

Fort Worth, Texas

Jacquelyn Block

Principal + Director of Faith & Community Practice

Portrait of a GFFer: Talon McCart

Outside of work, Talon likes to bike, snowboard and wakeboard. Other hobbies include woodworking, home renovations, traveling and flying his drone. He also loves to spend time with his family!

Andrew Adkison

Associate Principal + Senior Design Leader

Portrait of a GFFer: Hollyann Friloux

Outside of work, Hollyann enjoys spending time with her Golden Retriever (Connie), long walks/runs on the Katy trail, and seeing new movies in the theater.

Anthem Church Master Plan

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Town Lake

Austin, Texas

Lonnie Burns

Associate Principal + Studio Director

Joshua Brown

Senior Project Coordinator

Recreation & Private Clubs

Our firm has extensive experience designing highly-functional recreation facilities and private clubs. We understand the specific needs of an client's end-users, personalizing each project to meet the distinct requirements of the individuals who will utilize these facilities.

Blake Thames

Associate + Design Leader

AG Hill Partners

Dallas, Texas

It’s National Women’s Health & Fitness Day!

On this National Women’s Health and Fitness Day, let’s create a new narrative that celebrates women and all the ways they choose to become better versions of themselves.

The Braden on Fifth

Fort Worth, Texas

New River Fellowship

Hudson Oaks, Texas

Trinity at Left Bank

Fort Worth, Texas

Alix Rios

Associate Principal + Studio Director

Maya Pavon

Architectural Professional

23Springs

Dallas, Texas

Becky Baker, RID, NCIDQ, ASID

Senior Interior Design Coordinator

Beth Schmidt

Senior Design Leader

Emily Mendez

Associate + Director of Sustainability / Interior Design Leader

Aura on Lamar

Austin, Texas

Two Arts Plaza

Dallas, Texas

Aaron Hunt

Associate Principal + Managing Director – Fort Worth

Life Fellowship

McKinney, Texas

Jeremy Roehr

Associate Principal + Studio Director

Josh Hafel

Design Technology Leader

Factory Six03

Dallas, Texas

Carroll Pointe

Southlake, Texas

Sam Stribling

Associate + Studio Director

Jonathan Moebius

Architectural Professional

Portrait of a GFFer: Lance Abaya

"My favorite thing about GFF is how they value each individual of the firm, and the importance of inclusiveness in every facet of the practice."

Dallas Zoo South Garage

The Dallas Zoo South Garage is a simple building on a complex site, pairing an efficient layout with a visually dynamic façade to promote the Zoo’s mission and brand.

Magnolia Heights

San Antonio, Texas

Mike Lehr

Associate + Studio Director

Jamie Wallace

Associate + Design Leader

Sara Good

Associate + Studio Director / Project Leader

QIP East End

San Antonio, Texas

Talon McCart

Project Coordinator

Alta Left Bank

Fort Worth, Texas

Mike Reyes

Associate Principal + Senior Project Leader

It’s the People Who Make the Place / Emily Mendez

Emily Mendez is the Director of Sustainability for GFF, where she leads our internal committee comprised of sustainability representatives across all market sectors

Uptown Station

Dallas, Texas

Rocky Owens

Project Leader

Carson Guy

Project Coordinator

It’s the People Who Make the Place / Jacquelyn Block

Jacquelyn joined GFF in 2011 and has extensive architectural experience leading faith-based, non-profit, and educational projects.

Hope Fellowship

Prosper, Texas

Quest

The Colony, Texas

Cafe R+D

Dallas, Texas

23Springs

Dallas, Texas

Kelsey Kohlmeier

Project Coordinator

Aventerra

Southlake, Texas

Danielle Davis

Associate + Director of Accounting

Jacob Thibodeaux

Senior Project Coordinator

Portrait of a GFFer: Becca Vahldick

“I love going to shows, playing guitar, and even occasionally moshing. I generally go to smaller concerts or support local bands but tend to be at a concert 4-5 times a month!”

South Lamar

Austin, Texas

Gabrielle Duran

Project Coordinator

Trailhead Social

Austin, Texas

Taylor Catalano

Associate + HR Leader

Sarah Wheeler

Project Coordinator

Garrett Barker

Associate + Senior Project Leader

Corporate / Office

We have extensive experience in Corporate / Office facilities, having worked on such projects almost continuously for the last 25 years.

Taylor Wade

Senior Project Coordinator

Faith & Community

The Faith & Community Studio is GFF’s team committed to creating compelling environments for Worship, Fellowship and Education that are spiritually, environmentally and community driven.

Grant Wickard

Associate Principal + Senior Project Leader

The Slate

Dallas, Texas

The Bond

Austin, Texas

Emily Carvell

Operations Professional

West Bank Market

Austin, Texas

It’s The People Who Make the Place / Brian Kuper

Joining GFF in 1993, and a Principal in the firm since 2007, Brian has practiced architecture for nearly 30 years.

Monitronics

Farmers Branch, Texas

St. Monica Catholic School Renovation

GFF was hired to develop a comprehensive campus master plan accommodating the needs of both the church and the 900 student Pre-K to 8th grade school.

IBP 190

Carrollton, Texas

AvreaFoster

Dallas, Texas

3700M

Dallas, Texas

Evan Beattie

Principal + Chief Executive Officer / Chairman

Todd Toupal

Associate + Senior Project Leader

Market East

Mesquite, Texas

It’s the People Who Make the Place / Jason Cave

As Director of Civic Practice, Mr. Cave is passionate about creating memorable places in the public realm

Custer Bridges

Frisco, Texas

Meet GFF’s Historic Preservation Team: Chris Andersen

With GFF for over 24 years, Chris has worked on a wide variety of project types including both new construction and renovation/rehabilitation of old and historic properties

40 Years / 40 Facts

GFF is turning 40. Here are 40 numbers to celebrate the 40th year of our firm.

Jefferson Tower

Dallas, Texas

9001 Cypress Waters

North Dallas, Texas

Lena Starostine

Senior Project Coordinator

David Swaim

Associate Principal + Director of Construction Administration

Cielo Vista Church

El Paso, Texas

Coleman Brink

Design Coordinator

Harvest Lofts

Dallas, Texas

Portrait of a GFFer: Coleman Brink

Outside of work, Coleman loves to travel. During his school years, he used his longer breaks to visit many national parks, with Zion National Park being his favorite. In his senior year, he visited Cairo, Egypt, and he recently took a trip to Copenhagen which he said was incredible!

Riverside

Austin, Texas

Heritage Plaza

San Antonio, Texas

Portrait of a GFFer: Marissa Clinesmith

Outside of work, Marissa is involved in the AIA Fort Worth chapter Board of Directors as Director at Large, which she says has been an amazing opportunity to be more involved in the Fort Worth architecture scene- especially with the TxA conference coming to town this November 2023!

Alta Strand

Dallas, Texas

GFF Austin Celebrates Five Years!

In honor of Historic Preservation Month, GFF will be a Bronze Sponsor for the 2023 Preservation Dallas Preservation Achievement Awards on May 17th, 2023.

Portrait of a GFFer: Josh Hafel

When Josh isn’t working, he likes to hike, rock climb, and play with his 5-year-old husky-lab, Hatchi. He also has plans to one day see all 63 National Parks! So far, he has been to one National Park and six State Parks.

The District

Edina, Minnesota

Brian Moore

Principal + Director of Planning

1000 Weatherford

Fort Worth, Texas

Signazon

Plano, Texas

Woodlake Church

Bixby, Oklahoma

Diana Cruz

Executive Assistant

It’s the People that Make the Place / Alix Rios

With an eclectic portfolio ranging from build-to-suit corporate interiors and tenant finish-outs, to higher education and retail, she thrives under the challenge of multi-faceted interiors and diverse teams.

People

Our staff of 140 offers architecture, interior design, planning and landscape architecture throughout the US

John Eagle Acura

Houston, Texas

Can We Go Beyond Sustainability?

Resilient, restorative, and regenerative approaches all rely on a comprehensive team and systems approach to creating better built environments

Civic

Our civic design team specializes in creating beautiful and functional civic buildings that reflect the unique character of the communities they serve.

Northwood Club

Dallas, Texas

Cultural / Arts

When we are designing a museum, gallery, performance space, or a cultural project, we strive to create spaces that inspire and enrich the lives of those who use them.

Jim West

Principal + Managing Director – Austin

Fort Worth Academy

Fort Worth, Texas

Addison Buntin

Interior Design Coordinator

Scott Williams

Senior Project Coordinator

The Church Network National Conference is Almost Here!

Mark your calendars! The 2023 Church Network Conference (TCN) will take place July 18th through July 21st at the Irving Convention Center in the DFW Metroplex.

The Westwood School

Farmers Branch, Texas

David Rosenbloom

Design Leader

Equinox

Dallas, Texas