Gideon Toal Awarded Texas Society of Architects Firm of the Year Award

For more than 50 years, Gideon Toal has been recognized as one of the Metroplex’s best architectural, engineering and planning firms.  On Friday, October 19th, the Texas Society of Architects (TSA) will bestow the prestigious Firm of the Year award upon the Fort Worth company.
TSA describes the award as, “…the highest honor the Society can bestow upon a firm, awarded to a TSA firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least 10 years. The Honors Committee focuses its evaluation on the quality of the firm's architecture and, secondarily, the firm's contributions to the profession and to the community.”  Gideon Toal’s achievement marks the first Firm Award given to a Fort Worth architectural firm in the last 10 years.

Gideon Toal was founded in 1956 under the name Don W. Kirk, Consulting Engineer, and was responsible for many landmark projects in the region.  During the next few years, Michael Voich, Cecil Smith and Jack Gist joined the firm to respond to the growing client base. 

In 1965, the firm went through the first of many name changes.  Don W. Kirk, Consulting Engineer was re-named twice by 1967 and then, as the firm continued to grow, changed to Kirk Voich Gist, Inc. (KVG) in 1986. 

Randy Gideon joined the firm in 1989 and urban planner James Toal followed in 1993. Reflecting the transition to a new leadership team and additional services to the community, the firm became KVG Gideon Toal in 1993.  In 1996 the firm moved to the historic Dr. Pepper Building on Henderson Street, and was re-named again, finally resting on Gideon Toal in 1997.

Bruce Benner, long-time architect in the firm, became the third principal in 1999.  In 2004, Michael Bennett was brought in to Gideon Toal, bringing not only a new principal, but a fresh outlook on design stemming from his experience in Europe.  During that period, the variety of projects Gideon Toal designed expanded to include more Mixed-Use and planning projects. 

Around the same time, David Pettit was hired as the Director of Economic Development.  Previously the TIF Director at Downtown Fort Worth Inc., David highlighted a new emphasis on connecting Economic Development, Planning and Architecture.  Through this connection, more projects have been built thanks to his expertise in facilitating development and implementing financial strategies.  David became the fifth principal late last year, completing a well-rounded group of principals spanning each aspect of design and implementation.

Enjoying their rejuvenation, Gideon Toal celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2006 and has continued the influx of new designers to their mix from many cultures and backgrounds, adding continuous value and strength to the firm.

Gideon Toal is located in downtown Fort Worth on Seventh Street in the Bank of America Building with a staff of just over 50.  The company is now focused on Architecture, Planning, Economic Development, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture and has won over 45 awards in the past 40 years for its outstanding design and planning work. Their principals and staff offer innovative design solutions as well as rigorous project execution for a variety of challenging assignments.  The firm continues to create notable and innovative projects in and around Fort Worth such as the Trinity River Vision Master Plan, Intermodal Transportation Center and the Museum of Living Art: Fort Worth Zoo Herpetarium.

Below is a short list of current work:
Acme Brick Headquarters
Museum of Living Art: Fort Worth Zoo Herpetarium
Tarrant County College Downtown Campus
West 7th Mixed Use Development
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Trinity Uptown
Caceria Office Building
Omni Condominiums
Bell Helicopter Textron Facilities
River Plaza Mixed Use Development
Westlake Arts & Science Building
Watters Creek Mixed Use Development
Country Day School
Jarvis Hall, Texas Christian University