A team of experts at Brasfield & Gorrie construction engineering firm builds hospitals, offices, and data centers in the Dallas market and beyond, but every summer they embark on a project led by their hearts — constructing children’s playhouses for Dallas CASA.
Michael Lewis, senior planner with Brasfield & Gorrie, said he got on board with the event because it’s important to give back to the communities where they do business.
“Dallas CASA is a fantastic organization that supports kids going through a rough time,” he said. “This event is also one that centers around our skill set as builders.”
Parade Of Playhouses
Dallas CASA’s beloved Parade of Playhouses event is an annual fundraiser in which money and awareness are raised for the nonprofit agency and the child victims of abuse and neglect that it serves. The playhouses are on display for two weeks and raffled off to members of the community.
This year’s event is set for July 15-31 at NorthPark Center.
Brasfield & Gorrie is again partnering with HKS Architects for this year’s playhouse.
“All of their designs are so unique and wonderful that it almost seems unfair to choose a favorite,” Lewis said. “I really enjoyed last year’s playhouse with its focus on reusing construction materials.”
The playhouse construction usually takes between four to six weeks from start to finish, he added. Some of the playhouses even have electricity and running water.
“This playhouse is going to be used by hopefully many different kids and we want it to be a product that stands up to the test of time and looks great,” Lewis said. “I have a 3-year-old myself, so I know how much energy kids have. We want to make sure the playhouse we build will withstand it.”
‘He Wasn’t Alone’
The playhouse builders recently gathered for a Parade of Playhouses prep session and heard a story that touched Lewis’ heart.
“Two boys had to go through the legal system twice through no fault of their own. When the CASA advocate came out to meet the kids the second time, one of the boys ran out and hugged her because he thought no one knew where he was and he was so happy someone did,” Lewis said. “With Dallas CASA, he wasn’t alone. It might seem like a small thing but for that kid to know that in this world there is someone who cares and will support him, to me, is huge.”
Because of stories like that one, Lewis said Brasfield & Gorrie is honored to support CASA in its mission. The court-appointed special advocates, or CASAs, might be the only people who support the kids lost in the system, he said.
“I think Dallas CASA is great and I am blessed to be able to participate in the Parade of Playhouses every year,” Lewis said. “I love making some kid’s day when they finally get to see the playhouse we’ve built for them.”
