Any tour of Fort Worth architecture would surely include numerous projects designed by Gideon Toal. From the first United States currency printing facility west of the Mississippi, to the Thistle Hill mansion restoration, to the new Tarrant County College District’s river-spanning downtown campus, among many others, Gideon Toal has enriched the architectural heritage of Fort Worth and many cities beyond.
For more than 50 years, Gideon Toal has been recognized as one of the Metroplex’s finest architectural-engineering and planning firms, specializing in the planning, design and management of large complex projects. As one of the largest architectural firms in Fort Worth, Gideon Toal has extensive experience with federal, commercial, industrial and aviation facilities. The firm’s founder initially worked as an engineer for Convair (a predecessor of General Dynamics and Lockheed) and early in the firm’s history, he established a solid connection with the defense industry.
Offering architecture and structural engineering services to a broad range of clients, Don W. Kirk, Consulting Engineer was founded in 1956, and was responsible for many landmark projects in the region. The firm’s first significant project was a new research and engineering building for Bell Helicopter. With a small staff of seven, Kirk soon completed other notable projects such as Leonard’s Department Store Expansion and Subway, Medical Tower, Continental National Bank Sky Tunnel, General Dynamics and Coors Distributing Company. Michael Voich joined the firm in 1957, Cecil Smith joined in 1959 and Jack Gist in 1963 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 Kirk Voich and Smith Architect-Engineer, then changed to Kirk and Voich Architect-Engineer in 1967 and then, as the firm continued to grow, changed to Kirk Voich Gist, Inc. (KVG) in 1986. With the need for more space, the firm soon designed the award-winning KVG building on Ballinger Street and took occupancy in 1981. Other notable projects followed including the General Motors Assembly Building and Robotic Paint Facility, Bureau of Engraving and Printing Western Currency Facility, Mrs. Baird’s Bakery Bread Plant, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporate Headquarters.
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. Currently, Gideon Toal is located in downtown Fort Worth on Seventh Street in the Bank of America Building with a staff of just over 50.
Today, the company is focused on Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Economic Development. Our principals and staff offer innovative design solutions as well as rigorous project execution for a variety of challenging assignments. We continue 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.
Gideon Toal has won over 45 awards in the past 40 years for its outstanding design and planning work. As a dedicated community partner, Gideon Toal has directed the collaborative efforts required to realize numerous financially and politically complex initiatives.
