Coming in hot, it’s another Parade of Playhouses spotlight. This time it’s Tyler Ross with DFW Project Solutions, which is a very unique business in and of itself. They’re “full-service commercial construction management,” which means you hire them, and they navigate the entire commercial construction process from start to finish — zoning, planning, construction, and completion. But can they handle multifamily? Hospitality? BioTech, data, and more? As a matter of fact, they can.
And now you know DFW Project Solutions. Now let’s get to know their involvement with Parade of Playhouses. It all hinges on the man with the plan, Tyler Ross.
Getting to Know CASA’s Parade of Playhouses
Ross’s first introduction to the Parade of Playhouses was when he was with KDC, the consistent Grand Marshall for the Parade of Playhouses. That was five years ago, and he’s been a huge fan of the fundraiser ever since. Every year his role is to help manage the project (not unlike his day job), coordinate contractors, and keep everything on track.
He said the real people to thank are the partners that bring it all to life. This year DFW Project Solutions teamed up with Kimley-Horn, the planning and design consultants, and MAPP Construction, the hammer and nail people. They’re the ones that make it happen. But how does it happen?
Designing a Parade-Worthy Playhouse
Starting in March, the core team gets together and brainstorms possible concepts. The winner for this year was a playhouse inspired by iconic Texas theaters like the Majestic and Paramount. Not only is it a super fun playhouse with a crawl-through ticket window, but it’s also fully interactive. (Like beyond the aforementioned crawling.) There’s a red velvet curtain concealing the “stage,” a real theater seat, a popcorn machine, and a dressing room mirror. On the exterior, there are two frames where you can swap out the movie posters and a functioning marquee where you can announce your next screening … or trick kids into learning how to spell.
Since he’s been at it five years, I asked Ross if he’s had a favorite playhouse. He said no way, that’s like picking a favorite kid. You love them all equally. Brilliant. Though I will make a plug for this year’s runner-up — a playhouse inspired by the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. I’d love to see that one come to life next year.
If you’d like to see the completed product, it will be on display at NorthPark Center from July 14 through the 30. Raffle tickets are $5 each and it all benefits Dallas CASA, court-appointed special advocates for children in foster care. It’s incredible and we all need to become volunteers!!
