This Dallas Mavs Themed Parade of Playhouses Entry Is a Slam Dunk
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One of the Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses’ most anticipated entries has to be the collaboration between the Dallas Mavericks and DPR Construction. Not only do all MFFLs clammer to see what fun architectural wonder that the builder comes up annually, but all kids and kids-at-heart can appreciate the creative innovation on display at Northpark Center.
The Parade of Playhouses, Dallas CASA’s signature annual fundraising event, supports the organization’s mission of advocating on behalf of children in the foster care system. This year’s event kicks off June 14 and runs through June 30 at Northpark Center. CandysDirt.com spoke with Todd Brashear, Dallas Mavericks VP of Creative Marketing to get all the dirt on this year’s playhouse “Kicks House,” its inspiration, and the process they went through.
What was the inspiration for this year’s playhouse?
The Dallas Mavericks Kicks House was loosely inspired by the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.” I wanted to reinvent that and reappropriate it for the mission of Dallas CASA. I kept thinking about the cover art for that story with its oversized, roof-topped boot surrounded by grass. The shape of that boot reminded me of what would be a giant basketball shoe sitting in a family’s backyard, happy kids running all around. The initial idea was very basic, but each person who worked on it, from the architect Carlos Sierra to Mavericks graphic artist Brian Morren to the build team at DPR Construction, kept adding their own inspired ideas, elevating the playhouse to a whole new level.
Explain the Kicks House design, the different features of the playhouse, and how it works
At first glance, you can see it’s an enormous basketball shoe. It has a fun and quirky, sock-covered ankle sticking out of the top, almost like that of the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk (if he were an NBA player.) The tongue of the shoe doubles as a climbing surface, and the laces work like a cargo net. On one side, there are rock-climbing handles that lead to a lookout at the top. All around the exterior, it’s wrapped in weatherproof vinyl to look like a real leather basketball shoe.
Inside, we covered the floor with a design that was inspired by the Mavericks hardwood court. We wrapped one interior wall with a photo of the arena crowd, and we wrapped the ceiling with a photo of the new scoreboard. Essentially, kids can lie down on their backs at “halfcourt” and imagine themselves actually in the arena, surrounded by 18,000 fans.
Also inside, there’s locker room-inspired seating, shelves and cubbies, electrical wiring, LED lighting, an LED display, a gaming console, and a padded reading nook/hiding spot inside the toe. To top it all off, we included weatherproof toy storage, some Mavs kids merch, and an autographed image of Luka Dončić.
What is the collaboration process like between the Mavs and DPR Construction to come up with the design each year?
DPR has always been a stellar partner. Year over year, the company donates so much time, money, and manpower to this project. Because of those investments, I was reluctant to ask for more than straightforward construction. Once I had the initial concept in mind and the architect drew up the plans, my input to DPR was pretty simple. They took the opportunity and ran with it. Many of the little touches, from construction details to interior amenities, actually came from the DPR team after they began building. They just kept coming back with new ideas and surprises, going the extra mile the whole way. We could not be more impressed or more grateful for their enthusiasm and effort.
In addition to DPR, we partner each year with friend of the team and architect Carlos Sierra, who takes our playhouse concepts and turns them into real, build-ready plans. We all meet up, go through the plans and share our ideas before the build team is off to the races.
Do you have a favorite house or element of a house over the years that stands out, or that you remember as particularly genius?
I’m sure I’m biased on this, but I love all the functionality that’s built into this year’s Kicks House. Virtually everything on the exterior was thoughtfully included to sell the idea that it’s a real, gigantic shoe while keeping it a multi-functional play area inside and out. If kids want to climb, they have two options for that, if they want a bird’s eye view, they have a lookout platform at the top. If they want to read or game or just hang out inside in their own private space, they can do all these things.
The Mavs probably have a leg up as far as the “competitive” element of this event. What do you think will make Kicks House unique among the competition at the Parade of Playhouses?
That’s true. We do have at least a foot up in this competition, but Dallas CASA is the real winner here. To that end, we wanted to include everything imaginable to drive up raffle ticket sales. The sheer comical whimsy of our playhouse should catch a few eyes, but we believe all the little amenities and functional details will make the biggest difference in its appeal.
Did you have a playhouse when you were growing up? What do you think your younger self would have to say about Kicks House and the Parade of Playhouses?
You know, I grew up in a rural area, outside a small town in a working-class family. My neighbor from next door was my age. We constructed our “playhouse” in the forest between my family’s house and his. It was a lean-to made out of tree branches propped up against the trunk of a tall oak tree. We loved it and used it as a meet-up spot for years. In my wildest dreams, I never could’ve imagined having a playhouse like Kicks House or any of the playhouses in the Parade.
What does Dallas CASA’s work mean to the Mavericks organization?
Dallas CASA is near and dear to the hearts of the Dallas Mavericks. Oftentimes, kids are our biggest MFFLs. They’re who our team plays for, and many of them right here in our own backyard need help. When neglected or abused children need assistance, CASA volunteers advocate for their best interests, helping them move them to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. As an organization and as individuals, we’re deeply committed to supporting these advocates in their mission.
