When it opens in June, the Windsong Ranch Amenity Center will set a new standard in residential development. Designed by Good Fulton & Farrell (GFF), a Dallas-based architecture firm, The Commons uses a material palette of locally quarried natural limestone, Brazilian Ipe wood siding, steel, glass and metal.
“The Commons is the hub for all of the activity around Windsong Ranch,” said Craig Martin, Founding Partner of Terra Verde Group, the developer of the 2,030-acre master-planned community, which is 2.5 miles west of the Dallas North Tollway and north of Highway 380. “We wanted something special to create a sense of community while providing a luxurious well-designed amenity that blends in with our natural landscape and rolling terrain. It is truly different than anything else you will see in a master-planned community in North Texas and will raise the bar on what state-of-the art lifestyle living should be like in residential communities.”
GFF Associate Principal Chris Andersen AIA said the design was inspired by authentic Texas vernacular but with a contemporary interpretation that is reflected in the abundance of clean lines, glass and light. The architecture reflects historical Texas prairie design, which had dog runs and low roofs for natural cooling.
“We focused on materials that provide richness, strength and durability while still conveying a modern feel,” said Andersen. “Expansive and sheltering roofs covered in standing seam metal protect the glass enclosed interior spaces, as well as the large outdoor gathering spaces. The Ipe is a well-managed and highly renewable natural wood, which requires no chemical treatment to last 50 years. The roof deck is made of Douglas fir, another wood species known for its strength. The steel structure and mechanical systems are left exposed and are cleanly detailed so that they become an integral part of the composition.”
The Commons sits on a beautiful hilltop overlooking a two-acre lake with spectacular views and is adjacent to The Esplanade for community gatherings and events. Amenities include a Welcome Center and Community Café with free WiFi and indoor/outdoor seating; lap pool, resort-style pool, cabanas and kids spray park;
fitness facilities ; and a covered outdoor living room with an over-sized fireplace. The next phases will include tennis courts and a disc golf course.
Upon a projected 10- to 15-year build-out, the $1.2 billion Windsong Ranch will consist of 3,100 single-family residential lots; 250 acres of mixed-use development along U.S Highway 380; 550 acres of open space with native preserves, trails and parks; and a 50-acre Community Park. Homes in Phase One range from the mid $300s to $500s. Highland Homes, Drees Custom Homes and Darling Homes will open in June. Model homes by builders Huntington Homes, David Weekley Homes and Chesmar Homes will be open Fall 2014. For more information on Windsong Ranch, please go here.
Richardson-based Terra Verde Group, LLC is a real estate investment firm focused on the purchase of opportunistic real estate assets. Its principals have decades of combined experience in investments and development in the real estate marketplace and account for more than $6.5 billion of sales in real estate product. TVG delivers risk-adjusted rates of return, which exceed expectations and strives to build and sustain investor trust throughout the investment cycle. TVG creates significant added value by engineering and executing smart, disciplined, proactive management and capital strategies, while adhering to the core values it shares with its partners.