This Center has risen on the north side as the anchor of the incredible approximately 82-acre Bicentennial Park. Over 300 VIPs dressed to the nines to cheer on Mayor Laura Hill and City Council members as they counted down to ribbon cutting. As a member of the BRS design team, I love these events.

I stood discreetly, nonchalantly, inside the lobby near the automatic bi-parting doors, and I witnessed the facial expressions of people who entered under the distinctive porte-cochère, walking in for the first time. Eyes drift skyward. Jaws drop. Gasps. “Wow, look at this, ya’ll! This is so beautiful!” Wow factor …accomplished. Our design theme for this building was casual elegance, and Legends Hall does not disappoint. This is not your mama’s senior center. This is the first phase of one of the nation’s most important community recreation centers. At 24,500 SF, Legends Hall has something for every active ager – lounge spaces, reading nook with a stone see-through fireplace, and a kitchen for seniors to bake cookies and gather around the peninsula to chat up the latest Southlake happenings and what the kids and grandkids are up to. Legends Hall boasts a game room, which let’s be honest, is a comfortable man cave fit for the guys to get away from it all to watch the big game, shoot pool, have a refreshment and chill out. There is a fitness room equipped with the latest cardio equipment. Unique to this building is the bar. Yep, a bar. It is a fabulous place to hang out with friends, have a drink, and enjoy yourself in an upscale, vintage-ceilinged, chic space with comfy seating and adjoining outdoor patio overlooking Aria, the 500-seat outdoor amphitheater. The best Southlake parties will be held right here.

The generously-sized community gallery capped with an intricately designed translucent ceiling makes a terrific pre-function area with soft furnishings and a collection of modern art. The gallery provides access to the three arts and crafts multi-purpose rooms and to the pièce de résistance of Legends Hall, the 300-person community room, called Traditions Ballroom. The signature eye brow window facing Aria is accentuated by a sweeping ceiling scape of wood acoustic ceiling. In a word, it is stunning. Following remarks by Southlake leaders, the local group Party Machine Band rocked the house from the elevated platform as VIPs noshed on gourmet delights catered by two local businesses from the caterer’s kitchen. Acoustics were as near to perfect as this architect could sense.

Shana Yelverton, Southlake’s City Manager exclaimed, “Legends Hall is exquisite. I can only imagine the great memories that will start tonight that will follow us and our families as we call Southlake our home.”

On December 12, 2015, Legends Hall hosted an open house to the public. More than 500 people came to check it out. There was a Christmas concert in Aria, food trucks offered complimentary gourmet bites and drinks. It was a community celebration. People hung out at the covered back porch, gathered around the fire pit, and toured the amenities inside. Excitement was palpable.

At BRS, our why is we believe we can live better. We employ a people-oriented design process. What we design are places for people to gather and make memories. For the citizens of Southlake, our why, how and what are now evident at The MARQ. We are currently in the design development phase of Champions Club, the 80,000 SF phase two of this incredible community recreation center. It won’t be long until we’ll be back in Southlake celebrating the ground breaking of Champions Club and the new Tennis Center in Bicentennial Park. Life is good in Southlake. Now it is even better.

The event starts off with carnival games and prizes to win for children of all ages.

Family pictures are also offered to all families, with plenty of Santa’s to go around!

When the children aren’t busy playing games or telling Santa what is on their wish lists, an abundance of arts and crafts activities are provided.

When the fun is almost over, all of the families are led into a room where each child is able to pick out a toy while the parents get a box of non-perishable food in a red radio-flyer wagon. The final stop is a perishable items station where they can get fruit, a ham, a chicken AND a turkey! They can even pick out treats for their pets.

It was great to see the excitement of the kids and the gratefulness of the parents, as well as spend some quality time together out of the office. It is truly a memorable experience and BRS is honored to participate in the event.