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Days of Kin
Jeff Garnett has added a new trophy to display at his architecture firm that sits on the courthouse square in Glen Rose.
The Texas modern architect was recently awarded the prestigious American Institute of Architects Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Design Award for the noted Frazier Conservatory project during an event honoring extraordinary achievements in architecture at the Modern Art Museum.
The 2024 award marks back-to-back AIA Fort Worth recognition for Garnett, who also won the 2023 AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Design Award for his 110 Walnut Street Studio in Glen Rose.
This is the second recognition for the Conservatory as well, which won the AIA Fort Worth Studio Award in 2022, while still in the design phase.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized by my peers at AIA Fort Worth,” Garnett said. “Frazier Conservatory has been a special project to me — a ranch retreat where people can step away from the rush of life and find connection, to each other and to the land around them. I’m so grateful to the Frazier family for trusting me with this beautiful location, which has been part of the Frazier family history for generations.”
Founded in 1946, AIA Fort Worth — a chapter of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) — is a professional organization of architects from the North Texas counties of Comanche, Cooke, Eastland, Erath, Haskell, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Stephens, Tarrant, Throckmorton, and Wise.
Frazier Conservatory is located on the 700-acre Frazier family farm in Erath County near Stephenville. It includes a 5,000-square-foot main lodge, covered cooking pavilion, guest casita with wood-fired Dutch tub (and plots laid out for future casitas), a pool, firepit, paths, and a fishing pier on a 50-acre reservoir that provides a natural backdrop for the compound.
The centerpiece of the project is the great room in the main lodge, which features barrel-vaulted ceilings and expansive windows offering unobstructed views of the lake. An open fireplace anchors the south side of the room while a combined library and music room opens off the north end.
The client was J. Todd Frazier — a Juilliard-trained composer and the director of Houston Methodist Hospital’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine — who had a Steinway grand piano placed in the music room, reflecting Frazier’s belief “in the healing and humanizing power of fine art and natural beauty.”
The Conservatory design reflects Garnett’s modern ranch aesthetic, which prioritizes clean lines, natural materials, and a connection to the environment. His list of materials included locally sourced stone, wood cladding, white stucco, board formed concrete, exposed aggregate floors, and structural steel elements, all of which complemented the natural surroundings.
“Experiencing the breeze, the sunset, the surrounding wildlife — all these elements must be considered to properly integrate a home into its site,” Garnett said. “Each new build is ultimately a disruption to the natural environment, so the stakes are high. My designs are very modern, but I almost always use local Texas materials: stone, wood, and glass. I'm trying to create timeless architecture that seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with the natural elements of the Texas landscape.”
The Frazier family hopes to share the Conservatory as a host for retreats, special events, and overnight stays for individuals and groups, particularly community nonprofit organizations.
“Receiving this award is exhilarating because it opens doors to explore new ideas and tackle even more ambitious projects.” Garnett said. “It’s a reminder of the impact thoughtful design can have, and it offers opportunities to continue pushing boundaries — creating spaces that resonate deeply with the people and landscapes they serve. For me, this recognition is fuel for what comes next.”