Oak Lawn Place, Dallas
Affordable housing options for seniors in North Texas are scarce, and the aging LGBTQ+ community in Dallas can face additional challenges. Texas state law offers no protections against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Recognizing an opportunity to expand living options for residents in the area, owner Resource Center of Dallas (Dallas), a nonprofit service provider for the LGBTQ+ community and people affected by HIV and AIDS, Matthews Southwest (developer; Dallas), and Volunteers of America (affordable housing developer; Alexandria, Va.) saw an opportunity for a new 55+ community.
Opened in September 2024, Oak Lawn Place in Dallas is an affordable housing senior living designed to be inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQ+ seniors. Perkins&Will (Dallas) served as the architect and interior designer on the project.
Accessibility in senior living
Oak Lawn Place prioritizes inclusivity throughout the 79,650-square-foot community by integrating intentional design elements that foster accessibility, social connection, and a sense of belonging, including wheelchair-friendly doorways, ample circulation areas, and thoughtfully selected furnishings.
Each of the five resident floors features its own color palette and clear signage to support wayfinding. Additionally, digital and physical curated artwork throughout the community pays tribute to North Texas’ LGBTQ+ history and activism, including colorful custom murals by local artist Karen Chen of Sunshine Studios (Sacramento, Calif.) on each floor.
Communal spaces, including lounges, shared dining spaces, and multipurpose rooms, promote connection and support, addressing the isolation many LGBTQ+ seniors experience. Outside, a deck overlooking a creek and trees provides an inviting setting for group activities.
Oak Lawn Place, Dallas project details
Location: Dallas
Completion date: September 2024
Owners: Resource Center of Dallas
Total building area: 79,650 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $19.3 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $243
Architect: Perkins&Will
Interior designer: Perkins&Will
General contractor: Spring Valley Construction Company
Engineer: Schmidt & Stacy Consulting Engineers (MEP), Click Engineering (structural)
Builder: Spring Valley Construction Company
Landscape architecture firm: StudioOutside
Carpet/flooring: McMahan’s Flooring Inc. (supplier), Shaw (unit carpets), Mohawk (common area carpets), Tuffplank (LVT), Daltile (tile)
Doors/locks/hardware: Builders FirstSource
Handrails/wall guards: Inpro
Lighting: LFP Lighting, Kuzco Lighting, WAC Lighting, Saylite
Signage/wayfinding: Signs Fantastic
Surfaces—solid/other: Daltile, Golden Stones, Wilsonart
Wallcoverings: Aino, Astek
Project details are provided by the design team and not vetted by Environments for Aging.
