Project Luong is a firm committed to raising the bar for architectural design services, focusing on the People we serve and the customer service we provide. As architects, designers, principal, project managers, and administrators we have worked on a unique collection of community projects. From suburban to urban and modern to traditional, we help guide our clients through all considerations to finely tune the design to fit their needs.
We know that there are many options for architecture and design services out there. Project Luong sets ourselves apart by our People, Approach, Value, and Efficiency.
> People: We ensure that our clients are in the hands of the best team for their project. We design beautiful and thoughtful buildings with precise and efficient documents to ensure your project is designed to last.
> Approach: We are not just project-oriented. We are, first and foremost, People- and process-oriented. Our team will fully engage with you to discuss important project considerations, such as how municipal spaces will be utilized, what architectural style is preferable, and how refined or ornate finishes will be. We want to ensure our clients enjoy ease and assurance throughout the design process. You will never have to question our dedication or passion for your project.
> Value: We deliver significant value to you as an Owner or Developer because we provide highly skilled personnel to your project from start to finish. Our leadership, has worked for “Big Box” firms for over 30 years collectively, understands that some projects become just a number to already stretched-thin management and are assigned to green designers without much direction. What is lost in that experience is the hands-on customer service, technical abilities, and quality control for which our People are known.
> Efficiency: Our firm utilizes the latest technology to provide accurate, sustainable, and efficient design. We produce high-quality 3D renderings and visualizations, allowing real-time feedback and design optimization. We have also invested in tools that enable us to manage your project’s progress both in person and virtually.
Sincerely,
Alec A. Luong, AIA, NCARB, RID
Managing Principal | Project Luong Architects, LLC
alec.luong@projectluong.com
o +1 346 708 8241
c +1 713 582 0996
Great People Doing More Spaces.
RECREATION & AMENITY
288 PUBLIC ACCESS LAGOON - LAGOON DEVELOPMENT Iowa Colony, Texas
AMANDERA COMMUNITY CENTER - TAYLOR MORRISON TRI POINTE Waller, Texas
ANGEL LAGOON – LAGOON DEVELOPMENT Dayton, Texas
ARABELLA ON THE PRAIRIE PAVILION – BEAZER HOMES Richmond, Texas
ARTAVIA RECREATION PAVILION - AIRIA DEVELOPMENT Conroe, Texas
AVALON COMMUNITY PAVILION – TAYLOR MORRISON Friendswood, Texas*
BALMORAL COMMUNITY CENTER – LAND TEJAS Humble, Texas*
BALMORAL COMMUNITY SITE IMPROVEMENTS – BALMORAL HOA Humble, Texas
BEACON POINT COMMUNITY CENTER - CHESMAR HOMES Texas City, Yexas
BLUE LAGOON BAR & GRILL – BEACH 4 LAGOON Texas City, Texas*
BRIDGELAND CREEKLAND LAKESIDE – HOWARD HUGHES Cypress, Texas
BROOKSTONE AMENITY CENTER – DR HORTON HOMES San Antonio, Texas
CANTERRA CREEK POOL PAVILION - STARWOOD Houston, Texas
CEDAR POINTE POOL PAVILION - ASHTON WOODS Crosby, Texas
CITY PLACE AMENITY CORE – DMB SPRINGWOODS Spring, Texas
CLOPTON FARMS – TRI POINTE HOMES Montgomery, Texas
COTINO LAGOON MACHINE ROOMS – DMB DEVELOPMENT Rancho Mirage, California
CYNTHIA WOODS MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING – HOWARD HUGHES The Woodlands, Texas*
ELLERDEN AMENITY CENTER – PULTE HOMES Tomball, Texas
HARRIET AND JOE FOSTER FAMILY RENOVATION AND PAVILION – YMCA Houston, Texas*
HEIGHTS OF BAYTOWN PAVILION – MERITAGE HOMES Baytown, Texas
HUDSON RESORT POOL RENOVATION – LURIN Corpus Christi, Texas
KATY COURTS RECREATION CENTER – PULTE HOMES Katy, Texas
LAGO MAR COMMUNITY BUILDINGS – LAND TEJAS Texas City, Texas*
MAGNOLIA LAGOON - LAGOON DEVELOPMENT Magnolia, Texas
MAVERA COMMUNITY PAVILION – PULTE HOMES Katy, Texas*
MONTGOMERY BEND PAVILION – PULTE HOMES Montgomery, Texas
OAK HILLS LAGOON - CONTENDER DEVELOPMENT Columbia, South Carolina
PEEK ROAD MANORS – TRICON RESIDENTIAL Katy, Texas
PINE LAKE COVE RECREATION CENTER - MERITAGE HOMES Montgomery, Texas
PRAIRIELAND VILLAGE SECTION 29 PAVILION - BRIDGELAND Cypress, Texas
RANCH HILL SENIOR LIVING – INSPIRE COMMUNITIES Willis, Texas*
RAYBURN RESERVE COMMUNITY PAVILION – HINES Tomball, Texas*
REDBUD POOL PAVILION - TAYLOR MORRISON Tomball, Texas
REVERA COMMUNITY CENTER – PERRY HOMES Richmond, Texas
RFL CENTRAL PARK PAVILION - WARMACK WOODLAND Woodlands, Texas
RIDGELAND HILLS POOL PAVILION – ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT Willis, Texas
RIVERPARK WEST RECREATION CENTER REFRESH – RIVERPARK WEST HOA Richmond, Texas
SANFORD FARMS COMMUNITY CENTER - MERITAGE HOMES Waller, Texas
SIERRA VISTA POOL PAVILION – LAND TEJAS Iowa Colony, Texas
SORELLA POOL PAVILION – M/I HOMES & JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT Hockley, Texas
STOKESBURY COMMUNITY CENTER – PULTE HOMES Waller, Texas
STONE CREEK ESTATES PAVILION – PERRY HOMES Richmond, Texas
SUNDANCE COVE COMMUNITY CENTER - MERITAGE HOMES Crosby, Texas
SUNTERRA NORTH COMMUNITY BUILDINGS – STARWOOD Katy, Texas
SUNTERRA SOL LAGOON - STARWOOD Katy, Texas
THE TRAILS COMMUNITY CENTER – CASTLE HILL PARTNERS New Caney, TX
TRILLIUM COMMUNITY CENTER – TAYLOR MORRISON Richmond, Texas
WESTLAND RANCH POOL PAVILION - FORESTAR GROUP League City, Texas
WOODHAVYN COMMUNITY CENTER – SHEA HOMES Magnolia, Texas
CIVIC WORK
CITY OF HOUSTON EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER - CITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas
CITY OF HOUSTON LEE LECLEAR TENNIS CENTER - CITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas*
CITY OF HOUSTON SHARPSTOWN PARK POOL HOUSE - CITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas*
CITY OF MANVEL SPORTS COMPLEX – CITY OF MANVEL Manvel, Texas*
CITY OF PEARLAND HICKORY SLOUGH SPORTPLEX - CITY OF PEARLAND Pearland, Texas
CITY OF PEARLAND MELVIN KNAPP COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION – CITY OF PEARLAND Pearland, Texas
DR SHANNON WALKER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY – CITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas*
EAGLE LANDING PARK AT TAMARRON – CITY OF FULSHEAR Fulshear, Texas
EAST ALDINE TOWN CENTER SHADE STRUCTURES – EAST ALDINE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Houston, Texas*
KITTY HOLLOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTER - FORT BEND COUNTY Missouri City, Texas
TIDWELL AQUATIC CENTER – CITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas*
* WORK COMPLETED WITH PREVIOUS EMPLOYER
c +1 713 582 0996 alec.luong@projectuong.com
MY BIGGEST INFLUENCE: My immigrant parents fostered in me an appreciation for learning and people, as well as cultural sensitivity important in commercial architecture design. They taught me that reflecting and respecting customers’ and employees’ cultural backgrounds is crucial to success.
c +1 505 804 0210 natasha.dunn@projectuong.com
HOW CAN DESIGN TRANSFORM A COMMUNITY? With intentional design, we create spaces that naturally encourage interaction, turning casual encounters into meaningful connections. These spaces not only bring people together but also reflect the pride and identity of the community, making everyone feel like they truly belong success.
ALEC A. LUONG AIA, NCARB, RID
PRINCIPAL - MANAGING PARTNER
As a Principal and Managing Partner of Project Luong, my passion lies in commercial architectural design. I bring years of experience and expertise to the table, with a focus on designing spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and economically sound. I have worked on a wide variety of commercial projects, including offices, retail spaces, and mixed-use developments. My critical eye for problem-solving and accuracy and creativity helps me to ultimately reach a concept that reflects the client, context, and functionality of the commercial space. I am committed to exceeding client expectations and ensuring overall project success by respecting budget and schedule criteria. I strive to create a partnership dynamic with our clients that is informed by an understanding of commercial needs and a common cause to provide spaces that meet their goals and objectives.
Qualifications
EDUCATION
Master of Architecture, Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Architecture, Virginia Tech
AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Architects
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Architect - Texas #24095, Virginia #0401019744, Nebraska #A5380, New York #044461, Colorado #ARC.00407489, Florida #AR102888, Iowa #8305, South Carolina #AR.11536, Louisiana #10074, Massachusetts #954131-AR-R, District of Columbia #ARC40000740, Registered Interior Designer - Texas #12198 NCARB #124984
NATASHA DUNN AIA, NCARB, RID
PRINCIPAL
As a Principal with Project Luong, she provides project strategy, design and supportive leadership of all phases from conceptual design to construction management. Her project experience includes, new construction and renovation, retail, daycare, k-12, higher education, multifamily housing, and civic / community work. Natasha actively pursues professional development, self-reflection, and leadership opportunities with the intention to foster the strengths of others, establish mutual interests and strengthen agreed upon values in various types of project deliveries. She endeavors for buildings to stand as a testament to a thorough understanding of their purpose, achieved through collective expertise and an unwavering commitment to addressing client concerns with sensitivity to both their vision and the environment.
Qualifications
EDUCATION
Master of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Architecture, University of New Mexico
AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Architects
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Architect - Texas #25928
Registered Interior Designer - Texas #12464
c +1 281 818 8652 yesika.soto@projectuong.com
BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARCHITECTS FACE:
As an Architect, you have to be more than a designer – you have to be a problem solver. Efficiency is the key to success of every project.
c +1 512 739 2087 catherine.krueger@projectluong.com
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
TEAM: The best project teams are well balanced and diverse in multiple components, such as skill and work style, while also having mutual respect and trust in one another.
YESIKA SOTO AIA, RID
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL
Since graduating from the University of Houston with a Master of Architecture, my career has taken me across different projects in office buildings, warehouses, shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, and other commercial facilities. At Project Luong, our core belief is that architecture is about People, and commercial design is a distinct implementation of that point of view. My role is to collaborate with clients and consultants to design functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces that meet client-specific needs while adhering to local building codes and regulations. The goal is to create spaces that enhance productivity, inspire creativity, and promote customer engagement. Whether your project is a concession and retail renovation or a state-of-the-art office space, I am committed to meeting the schedule and budget requirements that are important for project buy-in and implementation.
Qualifications
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, University of Houston
Bachelor of Architecture, Texas A&M University
AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Architects Texas Board of Architectural
CATHERINE KRUEGER NCIDQ, RID
INTERIOR DESIGNER
CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Architect - Texas #27251
California # C-39791
Registered Interior Designer - Texas #12466
I grew up around design. I remember coloring on construction documents my Architect father brought home as child. When it was time to choose a career for myself, I pursued Architecture. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University in 2012. Since then, I have built a diverse practice background ranging from Medical to Hospitality to Multifamily. My passion, however, is firmly in Hospitality and Interiors. Hotels are a unique challenge requiring incredible attention to detail, a firm awareness of brand processes, an intimate knowledge of how people interact in the spaces they sleep and work and play in, and an eye for what’s next, all while providing comfort, aesthetics, function, and durability. Tackling that puzzle and following it through to the tiniest detail is my passion. I am dedicated to building the best guest experience possible while providing the best client experience possible with a thorough and thoughtful approach to Interior Design.
Qualifications
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Texas Tech University
CERTIFICATIONS
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners NCIDQ #402403
AFFILIATIONS
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners NEWH
GREAT PEOPLE DOING MORE
Project Luong is a growing firm of landscape architects, architects, interior designers, mixed media designers and administrators who understand that delivering a successful project begins well before planning and design.
Based in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, and Santa Monica, California, our diverse team has more than ten decades of combined multidisciplinary experience across many project classes, including community, retail, commercial, municipal, aviation, higher education, corporate, healthcare, recreational, and multi- and single-family residential. On each and every project, we strive to create ease and cohesion throughout project start-up, execution, and close out. We stand behind our work, and our designs aim to clarify, align, and respond to our clients’ visions, missions, and goals. When we reach your goals, we reach ours.
Reliable HUB partner
Project Luong is a small firm offering architecture, graphic design, landscape architecture, interior design, and planning services with an outstanding diverse team that makes a large impact. Our firm’s leadership is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace by promoting minority, women, and LGBTQ+ employees, cultivating flexibility for remote work and floating holidays, and providing paid family leave for both mothers and fathers, an almost unheard-of benefit within the industry. With the majority of employees being women and/or minorities, this diverse workforce allows us to bring a variety of perspectives and experiences to the design process and better serve the communities and clients we work with.
As a firm led by a Vietnamese American and two women, Project Luong is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the City of Houston, City of Austin, South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA), and North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA). The firm is also a certified Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) with the State of Texas. We are certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
We are certified as a minority-owned business and HUB throughout the State of Texas as well as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise through the US Department of Transportation.
Lifestyle Amenities & Community facilities
Fitness and business centers. Clubhouses. Family and dog parks. Ballrooms. Indoor and outdoor pools. Co-working spaces. These are just some of the amenities and facilities that can provide convenience and a sense of community to cities, counties, corporate and multifamily buildings, and residential neighborhoods. Health and wellness and maintaining an active lifestyle have also become more important to residents over the years. Creating these functional spaces can respond to a need for a healthy lifestyle and social engagement. At Project Luong, we recognize the impact that state-ofthe-art amenities and community facilities can have on their users.
To provide safe, accessible, and aesthetic fitness facilities, we know they require well-ventilated HVAC systems, respond to ADA standards for accessible design, and accommodate multipurpose functions. Spaces that host special events must be sensitive to sound, lighting, and sightline factors. Co-working spaces can consider modular design to transform large conference rooms into private offices. For any project, we know how to actively engage all stakeholders and members of the community to ensure all objectives are met.
Community Master Planners
We know that architecture is about People and that residents are a community’s essence. We help our clients develop community spaces that are memorable and unique to the development through thoughtful planning and consideration of the natural environment. To ensure project success for our clients, we first establish the program’s overall aesthetic, purpose, and vision. Then, we work together with all stakeholders involved in community planning, including development engineers, landscape architects, marketing and branding strategists, and the selected contractor, to ensure a successful project.
We also rely on our personal experiences as parents and guests to guide our design process to consider community and recreational usability by all user groups, child safety, ADA accessibility, security, and access control. Our goal is to develop projects that are timely in delivery and timeless in design. Our projects are as sustainable as possible and fit our clients’ current needs and, if necessary, future expansion. Our extensive knowledge allows clients to make early, informed design decisions without compromising user experience, accessibility, flexibility, or economy.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON:
Providing better customer service and delivering accurate, innovative, and tailor-made projects to our clients.
Residential Design Specialists
“Live, work, and play” are most intimately intertwined in the residential space. We know that the most important component of residential design is that it must be tailor-fit to the individuals and families that make up a neighborhood’s fabric. Our design approach starts with the fundamental basics of residential planning. In close collaboration with homeowners, builders, and developers, we identify core values and the best use of space to create material impact for the good of inhabitants and the environment. Whether the project is new construction or renovation, a single-family home, mixed-use building, or luxury apartment complex, our design is informed by the ultimate goal of creating a safe, healthy, and comfortable experience of space for all residents.
Our firm’s principals provide top-level involvement and work with clients and experienced professionals through work sessions and design charrettes to integrate purpose, pragmatism, and performance into the overall design. From high-end amenities, branding, and pedestrian-friendly solutions to phasing and scheduling, acoustics, and sustainability, we design from all angles and consider all factors that transform a collection of homes into a vibrant community.
CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUSED:
As your design partners, we will work with you to build a lasting professional relationship based on confidence, trust, and exceptional performance.
SIERRA VISTA POOL PAVILION
ROSHARON, TEXAS
client type
Community
square footage
2,750 Sq. Ft
construction cost
$1.3 MM
completion date
August 2024
owner reference
Starwood
Sierra Vista is the first amenity site being developed in the Sierra Vista community. Featuring a year-round lazy river attraction, several sports courts, and playgrounds, the design team transformed a simple restroom building into another amenity for residents. The restroom pavilion includes a pump equipment area, storage space, and a pavilion with views of the playground and splash pad. The pool pavilion also boasts a large see-through fireplace.
ELLERDEN AMENITY CENTER
TOMBALL, TEXAS
client type
Community
square footage
2,500S q. Ft
construction cost
$670,000
completion date
September 2024
owner reference
Plute Homes
The Ellerden Amenity Center is an elegant structure boast a feature roof element which acts as a sun dial broadcasting the project name and logo as a shadow on the ground, as visitors enter the central breezeway and gather in the covered outdoor spaces. This structure consists of an all-steel pool pavilion with a flat aluminum canopy roof. The building is clad in tile, with playful blue accents throughout the facade that reflect the serene shades of the adjacent pool.
SUNTERRA NORTH COMMUNITY CENTER
KATY, TEXAS
client type
Community square footage
11,500 Sq. Ft
construction cost
$5 MM
completion date
August 2024
owner reference
Starwood
Sunterra North
"We really wanted to create a very open feeling to the buildings. Originally the fitness and clubhouse buildings were going to be one structure, but we found an opportunity to increase outdoor views by splitting these two main functions into their own buildings. This also created a main axis framing the primary path from the parking lot to the pool. We also wanted to make the interior of the buildings fun so we focused a lot on the use of color for the finishes and the furniture." - Yesika Soto, Project Architect
Sunterra North, known as The Retreat, is a 15-acre recreation amenity complex that serves over 1,000 homes in Waller County, Texas. The developer of the project set out to create an amenity like no other in the region – focusing on catering to separate user groups in the multigenerational housing development. To achieve this goal, Project Luong worked closely with the Landscape Architect for the project to Master Plan the site with decentralized buildings to better cater to each user group’s needs.
No single building is intended to stand out on the site. Rather, they are designed to be in harmony with one another and the site elements that they directly correspond to. The four
buildings on the site include the game room, recreation center, fitness building and the restroom - these words do not need capital letters. The site is anchored by the central pool and lazy river, with sports courts, dog park, open fields, play areas, splash pad, and a community gathering lawn.
The Game Room serves as the main restroom for the pool and play areas, as well as the primary indoor/outdoor game building capable of being open air or closed and air conditioned depending on the season and the weather. The interior of the building is clad in metal panels to serve as a robust yet elegant interior finish capable of standing up to the wear and tear of the users.
The Recreation Center is the centerpiece of the recreation quadrant. Intended to be open during business hours to all residents instead of a rental space, the Recreation Center has lounge seating for gatherings, a grab-n-go food pantry, serving areas, and outdoor grill area. The building faces the main Gathering Lawn with feature doors capable of completely opening the wall between the buildings inside and outside.
The Fitness Building frames the main axis entry to the pool and lazy river along with the Recreation Center. Previously intended as a single building, we took the opportunity to separate these to maximize their ability to respond to the site and separate the user flows. Outfitted with the best available fitness equipment, the building has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to each workout area allowing every resident an individualized experience.
The exterior of the buildings needed to be designed to create a campus and not feel like identical copies. The Owner wanted a rich material pallet to reflect the existing farmland surroundings while also maximizing the interior volumes and natural light. We utilized a mixture of all of the existing site materials – including stone, metal panels, wood cladding veneers, and stucco. The interiors of the buildings, in addition to the metal panels used in the Game Building, including resilient flooring, sealed and stained concrete for durability, and acoustical fins in the ceiling to reduce the reverberation from the hard flooring.
SITE PLAN
1 GAMES BUILDING
2 RECREATION CENTER
3 FITNESS BUILDING
4 POOL / LAZY RIVER
5 GAME LAWN
6 DOG PARK
7 TENNIS COURTS
8 PLAYGROUND
9 GATHERING LAWN
Speed was critical for this project, with the Owner starting late but needing to deliver the recreation facility by Summer 2024. With over 500 homes already sold and over 1,500 residents in the neighborhood, it was paramount to get the recreation facilities up and running for the busy summer season. To achieve this, we had to advance the design quickly with an Ownership group involving many decision-makers. Site and building renderings were the backbone of this approval process and allowed us to quickly test and advance different design ideas and convey them digitally with the Ownership group to achieve consensus.
The Sunterra North project is a collection of buildings across a large site intended to accommodate different user groups at different times. The buildings are durable, and made for intense wear and tear over their lifetime. Community associations are not known for their extensive O&M budgets, and great care was taken into designing a beautiful yet durable structure. Buildings systems were kept as simple as possible to meet the current energy codes while providing ease of maintenance and serviceability.
Above: The Fitness Building and Recreation Building frame out the central axis of the site leading to the central pool and lazy river.
Right: Constant communication with the client during construction is key to ensuring that the vision is delivered on time and on budget. Project Luong works with owners in all phases of the project to bring these buildings to life.
Opposite Top: The Games Building serves as the central gathering place for indoor and outdoor activities adjacent to the pool, playground, and splash pad plaza.
Opposite Middle: The interior of the Games Building is pragmatic and elegant utilizing metal panels for a durable wall finish, sealed concrete as a floor, and industrial doors to connect inside and out.
Opposite Bottom: Renderings are an integral part of our design process and included in our fees to better communicate with our clients and achieve design approvals.
MONTGOMERY BEND PAVILION
MONTGOMERY, TEXAS
client type
Community
square footage
2,150 Sq. Ft
construction cost
$900,000
completion date
November 2024
owner reference
Plute Homes
The Montgomery Bend Pool Pavilion, located in the peaceful suburbs of Montgomery, TX, is designed to blend strength with a natural connection to its surroundings. Featuring CMU walls and timber-framed structure, the pavilion creates a cozy and inviting space, complemented by the modern touch of a standing seam metal roof. Inside, the layout includes restrooms and covered seating areas, thoughtfully arranged to meet the needs of the community. This pavilion is a great mix of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, making it both functional and connected to its surroundings.
TRILLIUM COMMUNITY CENTER
RICHMOND, TEXAS
client type
Community
square footage
5,500S q. Ft
construction cost
$1.2MM
completion date
June 2025
owner reference
Taylor Morrison
Trillium’s stunning structure seamlessly blends brick and timber, striking a balance between modernity and warmth. The expansive covered patio offers ample shade while maintaining an open, airy atmosphere—perfect for socializing and community events. Inside, large glass windows flood the interior with natural light, creating a lively and welcoming ambiance. The building’s design emphasizes openness and connectivity, encouraging interaction and engagement among residents. Small trees and shrubbery surround the community center, softening its edges and blending it with the natural environment. This thoughtful integration of nature and architecture enhances the sense of community and accessibility, making Trillium a vibrant and inviting hub for all.
CLOPTON FARMS COMMUNITY CENTER
TOMBALL, TEXAS
client type
Community
square footage
3,558S q. Ft
construction cost
$1.3 MM
completion date
October 2024
owner reference
Tripointe
Clopton Farms Community Center isn’t just a building—it’s a bridge between past and present, nature and architecture, community and connection. Set within the growing Clopton Farms community of over 400 homes in Conroe, Texas, the center sits on roughly 250 acres of land once owned by the Clopton and Gilmore families. Unlike what the name might suggest, this isn't a nod to Texas Hill Country but rather a tribute to the deep roots of the land itself.
Before the first shovel even hit the ground, Project Luong saw an opportunity to do something special—honoring the site’s history by integrating its existing trees into the very structure of the building. Instead of simply clearing the land, the team waded through tall grass and deep mud, tagging trees that could be repurposed for the construction. This thoughtful approach creates a tangible connection between the community and the natural environment, allowing residents to experience the landscape in a new and meaningful way.
At its core, the Clopton Farms Community Center is all about bringing nature inside. The two wings of the building are tied together by a striking mass timber structure, with exposed tongue-andgroove decking that radiates warmth and authenticity. A breezeway—constructed entirely of mass timber—acts as a welcoming passage, drawing visitors into the heart of the center and its amenities. Massive 12-inch diameter columns stand proudly, reminding everyone of the trees they once were, while the beams and decking overhead recreate the comforting embrace of a forest canopy.
The site constraints begin to offer a unique situation that allows the building to become more than a rectangular box. The procession to the building through a central road and around a round drop-off area asks the building why would it be anything other than curved? The structure becomes a broken radius that allows the two separate pieces of the program to exist similarly but still maintain their own boundaries to allow their function to thrive.
Above – The concave side of the building faces the parking and drop off area, drawing users into the amenity area. The wood siding with stone wainscot exterior cladding pulls inspiration from nature giving further depth to the reclaimed wood structure.
This connection to nature isn’t just aesthetic—it’s functional and inclusive. The center serves multiple groups within the community, with one wing housing a fitness room stocked with workout equipment and the other featuring an open meeting space for HOA gatherings or private events. The community room includes a small kitchenette and expansive glass walls that offer uninterrupted views of the outdoor amenities and lake beyond.
The Clopton Farms Community Center is more than just a place—it's a jewel box of design, shaped by the land, the people, and a vision that respects both. By blending architecture with nature, it sets a new standard for what a community space can be—rooted in history, built for today, and designed to last for generations.
The Clopton Farms Community Center shows how specific site conditions can lead to creative problem solving solutions. In working collaboratively with the landscape architect and client we all agreed that the building needed to respond to the site and with the building
placed between the entry roundabout and the existing lake there would need to be a solution that allows the building to exist in this narrow area but provide the necessary placemaking for the community. The solution takes the form of a bar, bent along a shared radius, split into two parts, and then offset from one another. This allows the building to become immensely more impactful on the site engaging the drop off roundabout area, allowing the space between the buildings to draw people into the amenity area, then on the back side of the building the curved façade looks out to the pool and lake beyond. This broken radial pattern is only further expressed through the landscape and hardscaped areas pulling the concept through.
Above: The fitness area gives the community a place to do a variety of workouts while allowing views and natural light out, not only toward the parking area but also through a 14-foot expanse of glass overlooking the landscape and lake beyond.
Top Above The Community room during construction allowed us to see the building in its purest form of heavy timber structure amongst the wood framing of the interior walls and attic. This gave the team the first glimpse at what the space would begin to feel like and the warmth the wood brings to the space.
Right The concave face of the building becomes primarily a glass façade with this face of the building primarily facing north/ northeast, allowing beautiful indirect light to come into the space and bring life to the community and fitness areas.
Our Approach ANYTHING BUT COOKIE CUTTER
Instead of a cookie-cutter approach replicating previous projects, we provide true personalization bolstered by lessons learned and extensive boots-on-the-ground experience. Our team-like design approach involving all stakeholders has a track record of meeting all project goals. We will walk with you step-by-step to transform your project idea into reality.
Quality Design ON TIME & WITHIN BUDGET
Project constraints should not restrict great design. We know the strict standards our clients demand in terms of quality, timeliness, and cost accuracy. Our versatile experience renders us uniquely capable of providing valuable insights and solutions to our client, design, and engineering partners to meet every project’s particular schedule, budget, and design needs.
Our Commitment AS TRUE DESIGN PARTNERS
Project Luong believes that architecture should be practiced with the accuracy, intention, and passion any licensed profession deserves. We’re focused on the relationships with the people we work for and our craft so that we can deliver an outstanding project experience and superb design product every time. Clients can expect high-quality design, customer service, and a commitment to deliver at every stage of the process, from programming to warranty.
