For July's installment of our monthly spotlight, we caught up with architecture and interior design firm, REES. Since opening doors in the DDD close to ten years ago, the REES team has made a considerable impact not only on our community but on the industry as a whole. With a team of experts specializing in corporate commercial, healthcare, media, and senior living projects, there's no task they aren't up for. Read on to learn more about the history + capabilities of this renowned firm.
Tell us about the background of REES and how the architecture planning and interior design firm came to be.
REES was founded in 1975 by Dr. Frank Rees, Jr. in Oklahoma City. Frank started the firm as a healthcare planning firm. As the firm grew, it added a second office in Dallas in 1984 and began adding additional specialties. In 2011, REES moved into the Dallas Design Center. Today our firm focuses on corporate commercial, healthcare, media, and senior living projects.
What do you enjoy most about having an office space in the Dallas Design District neighborhood?
The Dallas Design District is a fantastic location for an architecture and interior design firm. With so many showrooms and suppliers so close, our team has easy access to pick up samples or get information for client meetings. Being able to quickly stop in and chat about a project is a big benefit in both the speed and quality of collaboration.
What are some of your go-to shops or showrooms in the DDD for sourcing client pieces?
We love having so many showrooms near our offices. We regularly visit Daltile, David Sutherland, Designtex, Holly Hunt, Horizon Tile, Mohawk Group, and National Wallcovering.
What can clients expect when they enlist the services of REES?
We have a collaborative process that is focused on being responsive to our clients. Many of our clients have used large architecture firms in the past and soon find that REES is much more responsive and attentive to their needs. Plus, we still have resources to work on their largest projects. Our clients also appreciate that they get an experienced team that will stick with their project from design through construction. We collaborate with our clients to deliver exceptional solutions that enrich lives and help their organizations thrive.
We are also helping our clients adapt to COVID-19. We have completed several projects directly related to the pandemic for healthcare and corporate commercial clients. We are recommending engineering solutions to create clean air inside our buildings that make it safe to bring people back together.
In your opinion, what sets REES apart from other local architecture planning and design firms?
REES is a mid-sized architecture firm. This means we are small enough that clients get a team that can follow them from start to finish across all their projects. In addition, we are big enough that we have specialized resources like in-house visualization and master code professionals. Our clients use REES for a wide array of projects, from small renovations to large campuses.
If you had to describe the REES style in one word, what would it be and why?
Creative. REES’s mission is to deliver exceptional design solutions to our clients, so we foster a sense of creativity in everything we do. Whether it’s laying out an office space, designing a medical office building for patient comfort, or hosting our annual in-office mini-golf tournament, we believe in a creative and collaborative environment.
Any past, present or upcoming projects that the team is particularly proud of and/or excited about?
Over the years, REES has deep experience designing spaces for some of the largest organizations in the nation from a variety of fields. We value long-term relationships based on results.
REES is currently working with two locally headquartered firms, Goosehead Insurance and Nexstar Media, on corporate workplace projects across the country. Legacy at Lake Carolyn is a modern-styled apartment complex we designed that is nearing construction completion. The design includes a gondola dock on Lake Carolyn. We’ve also been working with Medcore Partners to develop a large, high-end senior living community in Georgetown, Texas.
Complete this sentence: “No office is complete without _______________
Natural light. Sunlight and views to the outside have proven benefits for creativity, productivity, as well as employee health and satisfaction. We strongly feel that good design is good business. Research shows your business can become measurably better by making good design choices. Our architects and interior designers strive to create spaces of the utmost design quality, resulting in an increase to your bottom line.
Clearly, when it comes to delivering exceptional design solutions, there's no better team to collaborate with than REES. To learn even more about the firm, their team, and their approach, visit their website + give them a follow on Facebook for a peek at some of their most recent projects.