Highland Meadows Preservation Award 2026
8647 N Mediterranean Circle
Congratulations to Jeff and Stacy Keller who are the recipients of the 2026 Highland Meadows Preservation Award.
When Jeff and Stacy purchased their home in 2000 it was in need of someone who could shower it with love. Since the original owners had passed away, a subsequent owner had neglected to keep up with routine maintenance and the home had fallen into a perilous state. There was no running water, the air conditioning systems were not working, and the owner was living in the kitchen.
But, a committed real estate agent was determined to find the right owners who would preserve the William Krisel designed home and restore it to its Mid-Century glory. Jeff and Stacy, both experts in mid century antiques, immediately recognized the home’s architectural significance and were ready to accept the challenge of saving it.
Completed in 1958, the McDonald Home, by architect William Krisel, was built for Wilbur “Tex” McDonald and his wife Elizabeth McDonald. Wilbur was the “son” in Wilbur McDonald and Son Furniture which operated a showroom at the Dallas Market Hall, Elizabeth was a successful interior designer who was nationally recognized.
The home sits on a large wooded lot, with a 100 year old pecan tree, overlooking Dixon Branch. The McDonald Home includes all of the signature features of a Krisel design including clerestory windows, post and beam construction, column free floor plan, plus original mosaic tile bathrooms with original fixtures, original door hardware, original lighting control devices… An addition of an artist studio, that seamlessly blends with the original home, was completed in 2020.
Photograph: McDonald Home, architect William Krisel, 1958, Mediterranean Gardens - Highland Meadows Preservation Foundation
Preservation Award 2025
8868 Langdale Circle - Lincoln Research House
Congratulations to Lawrence Bonanno of 8868 Langdale Circle who is the recipient of the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association Preservation Award 2025.
The Lincoln Research House was completed in 1952 and was the first home built in the Mediterranean Gardens section of Highland Meadows.
The home is the vision of developer J.P. Travis II and was designed with the principles of bio-climatic architecture that were pioneered by Viktor and Aladar Olgyay, consulting architects of Mediterranean Gardens.
The Lincoln Research House was heralded as “a revolution of design for tropical housing and building” and “the house of tomorrow” and was written about extensively in newspapers and magazines of the day. It was designed to meet the wide variations of the Dallas climate and was said to be a 30 year advancement in building technology over conventional construction. Incorporated in the design are provisions for solar shades, weather controls, fins, canopies, overhangs, natural breeze ventilation, and double roof construction. It was equipped with forced air ventilation, forced washed air cooling, radiant panel heating, and ventilating picture windows.
Photograph: Lincoln Research House, architect Walter W. Aschlager, consulting architects Olgyay + Olgyay, 1952, Mediterranean Gardens + Sylvania Dells - Highland Meadows Preservation Foundation
Preservation Award 2024
10742 Lanett Circle
Congratulations to Kevin McClendon and John Harrington of 10742 Lanett Circle who is the recipient of the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association Preservation Award 2024. Their home was built in 1955 by Kevin’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. McCandless Jr. in the Mediterranean Gardens and was designed by the firm W. E. Richardson & R. E. Bennett. A multi year renovation was completed in 2023 with great care and consideration for the original design. Kevin and John have preserved a house, a portion of our neighborhood, and a piece of our history.
Photograph, McCandless Home, 1955, architects W.E. Richardson + R.E. Bennett, Mediterranean Gardens + Sylvania Dells - Highland Meadows Preservation Foundation