In an era when architectural firms are consolidating into ever-larger operations, Glen Rose-based architect Jeff Garnett has chosen a different path — and the awards are following. By keeping his studio small and staying personally involved in every step of a project, Garnett has cultivated a single, unmistakable voice: design-forward, site-specific work shaped by a homegrown Texas modern ethos. That approach earned him two of only seven honors at the 2025 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fort Worth Design Awards last month.
Garnett took home a Design Award of Merit for Elk Edge Retreat — a 4,800-square-foot ranch home tucked into Somervell County hills — and a Studio Award for Animal Sanctuary. This conceptual Weatherford project combines dog adoption, equine therapy, mental health programs, and sustainable design across nearly 30 acres. These awards mark his third consecutive year of recognition at AIA Fort Worth, following honors for his Glen Rose studio and a family retreat near Stephenville.
Elk Edge Retreat exemplifies Garnett’s knack for making architecture feel inevitable in its landscape. Native limestone, wood, concrete, and steel anchor the home, while deep porches and expansive glass frame long views of pasture and elk. Jurors praised the “trifecta” of architecture, interiors, and site, noting how every corner was shaped with careful attention to materiality, proportion, and the surrounding terrain. The result is a weekend retreat that is both refined and rooted in the Texas countryside.
Animal Sanctuary, meanwhile, demonstrates how Garnett’s principles of place and design translate to public-facing projects. Jurors called it an exemplary case of placemaking with an economy of means. Simple linear elements generate a rich network of courtyards and paths, creating an experience that unfolds as visitors walk through the site. The design balances functionality and sensitivity — therapeutic programs are organized around landscaped outdoor rooms, and even shelter dogs benefit from thoughtfully framed views. In short, the project shows that careful attention to circulation, outdoor spaces, and materiality can serve both people and animals without unnecessary complexity.
Keeping his studio intentionally small allows Garnett to maintain that level of attention and coherence across every project. “My work is very much about being on the land — walking it over and over until the design feels inevitable in that spot,” he said. Early in his career, he even camped on sites to understand them firsthand — a hands-on ethos that still informs his approach today.
Elk Edge Retreat shows Garnett at his best with private family getaways — a house that seems to grow from the land itself. Animal Sanctuary, by contrast, imagines how that same careful attention to place and people can extend beyond private walls, creating spaces that nurture both humans and animals. Taken together, the projects suggest a new chapter for his work: Texas modern architecture that doesn’t just sit on the land, but engages with it and the communities that inhabit it.
“For me, these awards are encouragement to keep pushing the same questions about refuge and place into more public work,” Garnett said. “Whether it’s a family retreat or a gallery, museum, or community space, the goal is the same: to make architecture that feels inevitable in its setting and generous to the people who use it.”