Omniplan’s KidQuad Playhouse Reimagines an Iconic Uptown Area That’s Getting a Makeover

OMNIPLAN, Stream and Austin Commercial have teamed up to create a CASA Playhouse that is a childhood dream that taps into one of the biggest projects in construction in Dallas right now. For those that spent their formative adult years working in Dallas – specifically Downtown and Uptown – The Quad holds a special place in their hearts. As Chief Marketing Officer for OMNIPLAN Amanda Buckley said, it was pretty much the place to go for lunch back then. It’s also currently getting a major makeover.

The Stream, OMNIPLAN, Austin team was tasked with reimagining the space into something more fitting of modern times. A family-friendly place filled with restaurants, shops, and commercial real estate space. When OMNIPLAN sat down to imagine what the city needs, they drew inspiration from Bryant Park in New York.

They wanted to create an outdoor space that was open-air and engaging. A place for adventures and casual dining. They came up with five buildings and a greenspace that creates a “campsite experience.” One that’s just as much about gathering and connecting as it is about offering a dedicated spot for kids to play.

Turning a Development Into a Playhouse

When it came time to pitch initial ideas for the Parade of Playhouses, Omniplan hosted a “charrette” where everyone in the firm was invited to bring their thoughts, sketches, and pitches.

Project Lead Tim Astor said it’s something everyone enjoys. It’s a chance to think completely differently and on a totally different, much smaller scale. There were ideas for stacks of library books, massive loaves of bread, and pirate ships. It’s an opportunity for designers to think like a kid. And one presenter had an edge. She was a kid.

Andy Fast is the lead designer on the project and his daughter, Ella, was his co-creator. Not only that, but she was also onsite to help pitch their idea — a KidQuad, a miniature version of the very project the firm was currently undertaking.

After the first charrette, the ideas were narrowed to three and in the end, KidQuad came out on top. Since the initial pitch, it’s grown and evolved — it’s truly a group effort with a dedicated team coming up with ways to make it even cooler. They even included their construction partner, Austin Commercial, and their development partner, Stream. The result is going to be a total crowd-pleaser, just like its inspiration, The Quad.

The design of the playhouse seeks to become a kid-sized version of one of The Quad buildings: A sleek continuous black exterior mimicking standing seam metal, a faceted climbing wall, a suspended cargo net, and an elevated ‘crows nest’ giving kids a unique vantage point. The design also integrates skylights, monkey bars, and interior hiding spaces to encourage physical exploration of the playhouse for endless summer fun!

If you’d like to see Omniplan’s Kid Quad in person, check it out at NorthPark Center from July 14 through the 30. Raffle tickets for the Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses are $5 each and everything benefits Dallas CASA.