Beneficiary
The Architecture and Design Foundation serves as North Texas’s public gateway to architecture, design, and the built environment. As the voice of architecture in the Dallas region and a steadfast champion of access and awareness, the Foundation exists to showcase the impact of the built environment on our daily lives. We connect our community through architecture. By teaching creative skills and unlocking design thinking, we empower every resident and visitor to see their city not just as a backdrop, but as a vibrant, intentional space where they belong. For more information, visit DallasADEX.org.
- Designing My Future K 12 Camps. A cornerstone of the Foundation’s mission is early and equitable access to design education. The Designing My Future camp series introduces students ages 6–18 years old to architecture, engineering, and construction through hands-on learning led by professional architects and educators. Students gain exposure to architecture-related career pathways and develop STEM skills, creative problem solving abilities, and confidence. Since its launch in 2020, the program has become one of the region’s most impactful architecture education initiatives.
- School & Family Programs. Programs such as Build Your City!, LEGO Family Build Days, and family-friendly workshops make architecture accessible to children and adults alike. Many of these offerings are free or at low-cost to expand the reach of these programs to families across income levels and reinforce the idea that everyone has a role in shaping better communities.
- Walking & Tram Tours. Each year, thousands of residents and visitors participate in guided architecture walking tours and tram tours that uncover Dallas’s neighborhoods and landmarks. These experiences foster civic pride and increase awareness of the value of preserving our architectural legacy.
- Scholarships, Fellowships & Research Grants. The Architecture and Design Foundation awards more than $40,000–$60,000 annually in scholarships, fellowships, and grants to high school students, university students, and emerging professionals. Traveling fellowships and research grants allow young architecture professionals to conduct independent studies, expand their global knowledge, and bring new ideas back to the Dallas community.
- Exhibitions & Civic Dialogues. Our gallery hosts rotating exhibitions and public programs that explore architectural innovation, sustainability, historic preservation, urban planning, and civic design. These exhibitions are open to the public, helping demystify architecture while encouraging dialogue about how design shapes daily life and equitable cities.
The Foundation regularly collaborates with universities, school districts, community organizations, and professional partners to host lectures, student showcases, town halls, and planning conversations. These programs bridge education and civic life, ensuring architecture and design voices are part of broader discussions about Dallas’s future.
Form Follows Fitness 5K’s Impact
Over the last 15 years, the Form Follows Fitness 5K has done more than raise funds, it activates public spaces and invites new audiences into conversations about architecture, wellness, and culture; directly fueling our mission driven programming. This support allows the Architecture and Design Foundation to:
- Keep many of our public programs free or affordable
- Reach underserved youth and first generation college students
- Preserve and interpret Dallas’s architectural heritage
- Cultivate the next generation of designers, civic leaders, and informed citizens
Together, our programs demonstrate how design education is a public good; one that strengthens neighborhoods, expands opportunity, and ensures Dallas continues to grow with intention and creativity.
