Inaugural Home Tour Marks Las Colinas’ 50th Anniversary

Celebrating a golden anniversary calls for special celebrations. Las Colinas, a master-planned community within the city of Irving, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. And even though the grand design community is now half a century old, the community, its residents, and the Las Colinas Association are doing something for the first time ever — holding a public home tour.

Saturday and Sunday the Las Colinas Association in partnership with the American Institute of Architects Dallas Chapter will be the days visitors will get a rare chance to tour exclusive Las Colinas neighborhoods. The Las Colinas Home Tour is just one of several events planned for a year-long recognition of the master-planned development.

The reasons behind holding a home tour number three, according to Tim Glass, director of strategic planning for the Las Colinas Association and the master planner behind the tour.

“First and foremost, it’s one way to engage our homeowners and our members in our 50^th celebration, and that’s very important to us and what our image is,” Glass said. “I think a lot of people don’t perceive us as any more than an office community and the towers, but we have 44 residential communities and almost 8,000 residences.” The Las Colinas community, which includes apartments in addition to office buildings and houses, boasts a residential population of approximately 55,000.

The second reason points to the allure of many of the homes’ exclusivity. Getting a glimpse into the private neighborhoods is appealing to the curiosity of some.

“Basically, we want to show off these homes, and many of them are in gated communities,” Glass said. “The general public doesn’t get to see them very often.”

The third reason Glass gives for the home tour is philanthropic. Proceeds from the event will go to local charities such as Irving Cares and the Irving Schools Foundation, and the Irving Symphony Orchestra.

Selecting Six For Las Colinas’ First Home Tour

The six showcased homes were selected from residents who nominated their own homes to be on tour. From that, a committee narrowed it to the ones that will be spotlighted next weekend. Chairing the selection committee was architect Andrew Meckfessel, a shareholder in the architecture firm DSGN and co-chair of AIA Dallas’ own home tour committee. He said the committee was in total agreement on which houses to choose, and he’s impressed with what he saw.

“It doesn’t seem like a hard task to select six homes, but the homes we chose are really great,” Meckfessel said. “Las Colinas is not what I thought it was. It’s a vast array of a collection of architectures. It has every potential home style that you could want, and no one really knows about it. It’s behind gated community, and that’s the mystery of it.  No one knows what’s there.“

The Airport Inspiration Behind Las Colinas

Las Colinas is bordered by Interstates 35E and 635, State Highway 183, and Belt Line Road, and lies within the city of Irving and western Dallas County. It was Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport that inspired developers Ben Carpenter and Dan C. Williams to create the commercial and residential community. In September of 1973, Las Colinas was announced as a joint venture between Southland Financial Corporation and the Las Colinas Corporation.

Centered around Lake Carolyn, the community includes the Las Colinas Country Club, Mandalay Canal, the University of Dallas, North Lake Community College, and Trinity River Greenbelt Park. In addition to beautiful homes, Las Colinas features Fortune 500 companies, golf courses, parks, jogging trails, and restaurants.

Home tour organizers wanted to spotlight the residential aspect of the community. The homes will be held open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, with visitors able to use tickets over the two days. Tickets are priced at $75, but Candy’s Dirt readers will receive a 25 percent discount with the code “candy.” Purchase tickets now on eventbrite.

Below is a list of the tour homes, two in each of three neighborhoods.

Cottonwood Valley

1505 Cottonwood Valley Circle North

Architect Gary Covert designed this home, and Sainton Custom Homes executed the renovation in 2019. Color, pattern, and texture energize the home, reflecting the homeowner’s personality, yet maintaining its essential function.

1809 Cottonwood Valley Circle North

The home blends both traditional and modern styles through details such as crown molding and coffered ceilings, plus the use of natural materials. Architect Fred Wynn created the 1986 home with architect Michael J. Lyons leading the 2021 renovation completed by Sainton Custom Homes.

Fox Glen

3907 Fox Glen Drive

Massive windows and soaring ceilings in the living areas give this home, designed by architect Robert Davies, its “wow” factor. Updated in 2022, this home features a patio and pool that overlook the golf course.

315 Steeplechase Drive

This home, with former interior walls and low ceilings removed, demonstrates how a renovation can transform a house for today’s lifestyle preferences. Living, entertaining, and cooking spaces blend seamlessly with the outdoors, revealing a modern floor plan.

University Hills

3600 Hidalgo Street

Built in the late 1970s, this home sits at the highest point of Las Colinas, near Flag Pole Hill Park. Irving businessman Ernest Owens and his wife, Joyce, collaborated closely with architect Mario Molina to design a home that would endure for generations. The home incorporates bold colors, geometric shapes, and natural materials such as wood and stone.

504 N. Durango Circle

Clean lines, simple shapes, and a streamlined aesthetic comprise this house’s modern design. Carefully selected furniture and accessories make this home an example of a design that’s both visually attractive and functional.