Affordable housing project in Dallas intended for LGBTQ seniors

To address a great need for affordable housing for low-income LGBTQ seniors, developer Matthews Southwest teamed up with Volunteers of America to create Oak Lawn Place. The project, constructed at the site of a former multiuse industrial boat salvage yard, provides 84 housing units.

The 79,650-sf facility has a distinctive corner façade—cheerful with multi-colored metal panels and floating above a glass lobby. It makes a confident but subtle gesture to the rainbow flag to convey a warm, inclusive welcome. This identity statement is also a visual cue guiding visitors and residents to the building’s entrance. In tawny brick with a daylit sheen, the rest of the exterior complements the neighborhood context. 

The building’s angular C-shape increases each unit’s exposure to natural light while forming a protective wing around an outdoor deck, largely hidden from public view. This deck gives residents a private oasis elevated above the site’s sloping land and creek.
Inside Oak Lawn Place, designers struck a balance between modern minimalism and the comforts of home. The focus was tranquility. 

Creative solutions—from the elegant, diffused illumination of cove lighting in hallways to the strategically placed ceiling cuts that direct residents to rooms through shadow and light—enhance the ambiance within budget. Luxury finishes, a vibrant and uplifting color palette, and ample natural light create an inviting backdrop for curated art and digital displays animating the interior, along with a custom mural on every level. While adding personality to each floor, this color-coding provides visual wayfinding for residents. 

Additional photography and artwork, curated by Resource Center, celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the building. The design also includes practical considerations for senior living, from seating in hallways and elevator lobbies to wheelchair-friendly doorways. The new facility is also across from the new Resource Center Health, which will be fully operational in 2025.

Owner: Resource Center
Developer: Matthews Southwest
Design architect: Perkins&Will
Architect of record: Perkins&Will
MEP engineer: Schmidt & Stacy Consulting Engineers
Structural engineer: Click Engineering
General contractor/construction manager: Spring Valley Construction Company