Dallas Design Experts Offer Inspiring Panel Discussion Jan. 17

Staff Reports

Learn from Dallas’ leading architects, designers, and landscape architects about what inspires their design at the first Dallas Architecture Forum spring 2019 panel discussion. The Dallas Architecture Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing public education about architecture, design, and the urban environment, begins its series on Thursday, Jan. 17, with “Design Inspirations Part One,” moderated by Eurico Francisco, Design Principal at HDR Architecture.

“Dallas and North Texas are known for award-winning projects – residences and public buildings, interiors and landscapes. With this panel the Forum will continue its exploration of what motivates and inspires some of our area’s outstanding design professionals to create their highly regarded projects,” stated Forum executive director Nate Eudaly. “These design leaders will highlight some of their amazing projects, and there will be time for those attending to ask our esteemed panelists more about their work.” 

Panels are free for both Forum members and the general public. The first discussion, which will be located at the Dallas Black Dance Theater at 2700 Ann Williams Way in the Dallas Arts District, begins at 6:30 p.m., with complimentary beverages available beginning at 6:15 p.m. No reservations are needed to attend, and one CEU AIA credit is available. 

All of the panelists are recognized by their peers and the greater design community as being leaders in their fields. On Jan. 17, attendees will have the privilege to hear from these designers as they engage in lively discussion.  Moderator Eurico Francisco, an architect who has a passion for buildings and cities, will be joined by Dallas design doyenne Emily Summers, renowned modern architect Ron Womack, and prolific landscape architect David Rolston. Find out more about the moderator and panelists below:

Eurico R. Francisco, AIA, is an architect whose passion for buildings and cities drives him to create memorable spaces, to inspire his clients, and to encourage his colleagues and students to achieve excellence in all that they do. Eurico is a Design Principal with HDR Architecture, where he leads projects in the Dallas design studio. His built work includes government, healthcare, academic, research, hospitality, multi-family and mixed-use facilities. 

A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Sao Paulo, Eurico has received over 20 local, regional and national design awards for his work in the US and abroad, and has taught design studios at the University of Sao Paulo, Boston Architecture College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Texas Tech University. He is a contributing editor to Texas Architect magazine and is active as a member of the Board of Directors and Lecture Programming Team of The Dallas Architecture Forum, as well as the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and the Texas Society of Architects.

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Having been in business in Dallas for over 35 years, David Rolston Landscape Architects has knowledge and passion to design custom landscapes and gardens that respond to their clients’ needs and desires. Their design aesthetic leans towards modern, but they’re not strangers to hybridization, i.e. “Texas Native Meets English Garden”. The group gives special care and attention to each project because of their priority as gardeners first. Their team installs and maintains each of the home landscapes. Their commitment to observing the growth of each planting and its reactions in the home site is consistent with their commitment to excellence. Rolston and his team know what a personal garden can be capable of and love to share that with their clients. They also frequently partner with architects and their clients to create a unified vision melding the house with the garden.

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Nationally recognized designer Emily Summers is known for her refined interiors and creative eye. Throughout her thirty-five years in business her work has been defined by her integration of architecture, art and interior design. Emily Summers was named to the 2016 AD100, Architectural Digest’s directory of the world’s top 100 designers and architects and has been on the list since 2007. Ms. Summers and her firm have collaborated with award-winning architects including Antoine Predock, Lake/Flato, Larry Speck, Overland Partners Architects, Dick Clark, Marc Appleton, Max Levy, Miro Rivera, Olson Kundig, Coleman Coker and the late Samuel Mockbee.  Emily Summers Design Associates consulted and contributed to design of the interiors at the Wyly Theater and The Winspear Opera House. Summers has over 36 years of involvement with the Dallas Museum of Art including a staff position as Director of Exhibitions and Fundraising, and currently as a member of the Building Committee. 

Ms. Summers serves as a Life Member of the Advisory Council for the University of Texas School of Architecture. She has also served as a member of the Advisory Council for the School of American Ballet since 2012. President George W. Bush appointed Ms. Summers to the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation in 2002 – 2006.  She is a founding member and past President of The Dallas Architecture Forum and a board member of the Trinity Trust. She is a current member of the Advisory Council for The Dallas Architecture Forum and Historic Preservation Alumni Foundation. She also serves as a member of the Architecture and Design Council at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

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Ron Wommack, FAIA established his firm, Ron Wommack Architect, in 1990. Prior to establishing his own firm, Ron had worked for two of the Southwest’s most recognized and design-oriented firms, The Oglesby Group and Frank Welch Associates.

Projects of Ron Wommack Architect have ranged from the refurbishing of older housing units into viable urban dwellings, the development of new denser housing typologies, and single family residences to corporate office facilities and public / community projects. For this body of work, the firm has received more than twelve American Institute of Architects (AIA) component design awards since 1994 including six Texas Society of Architects and AIA/Dallas Honor Awards. It has also received D-Magazine Home of the Year awards, and awards from Preservation Dallas.

Ron received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas Tech University in 1976.  He currently serves periodically as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Arlington and as a visiting studio critic at Texas Tech University. He was elected to the College of Fellows of the AIA in 2004 and his firm was honored as the 2006 AIA/Dallas Firm of the Year.

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