New Colorful Water Tower Brings Artful Touch to North Texas at The Brickyard

Photo: Jonah Gilmore, Studio Rocket Science

Urban art has a new home in Farmers Branch with a stained glass water tower at The Brickyard.

Local artist Joseph Shortell of Shortell Design was commissioned by Dallas-based Billingsley Company to create this iconic structure at New York-style apartment community. Lauren Stout, an independent artist working with Shortell, laid out the color schemes with direction and approval from property developer Lucy Billingsley.

“We could not be more thrilled with how the water tower has turned out,” said Sumner Billingsley, managing partner on The Brickyard project. “I think it fully encompasses the thoughtfulness and unique attention to detail that went into this development – inspired by elements of the past, but infused with the creativity and energy of our community today.”

Among the features of The Brickyard water tower:

• Internally lit with 24 LED flood lights
• Agricultural silo-style metal roof
• 24 three-foot-by-six-foot curved panels, each with individual colored acrylic panes in varying shades of yellow, orange, red, blue, and green
• Panel and pane frames made of powder-coated metal to withstand harsh Texas weather

We’ve written about The Brickyard before: they have a unique vision for their property Farmers Branch, an inner-ring Dallas suburb about 14 miles north of downtown Dallas: bring New York-inspired living to DFW, but without the price tag.

Photo: Billingsley Company

The Brickyard is their new apartment community in Mercer Crossing, at the crossroads of Interstate 35E, Interstate 635, and the President George Bush Turnpike. Its details include industrial architecture, brick detail, metal-framed windows, metal awnings, large arched windows, and walk-up style housing. The new water tower is designed to complement these urban-inspired design elements on the property.

The water tower sits on the edge of the property, so its viewable by both residents and passersby. The official unveiling and lighting of the water tower was Oct. 5. Farmers Branch dignitaries and guests attended a lighting party to see the new addition to the property and welcome a local piece of art to the community.