Established in 2006, the Business Hall of Fame recognizes businesses whose entrepreneurial spirit, civic leadership and corporate stewardship has contributed to the growth of the greater Arlington area.

This year’s inductee, LBL Architects, is one of the longest running architecture firms in Arlington. They have worked on countless buildings and projects in the City, including  the Tarrant County SouthEast sub-courthouse, the Arlington Police Department’s Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center, the Alliance For Children expansion, the Theatre Arlington renovation, and innumerable projects with UTA and Arlington ISD.

During the 79th Annual Dinner, Tom McCarty, president of LBL Architects, sat down with Michael Jacobson, CEO & President of the Chamber. Watch the interview here or read the transcript below.

Jacobson: You have a big celebration this year at LBL. What are you celebrating?

McCarty: Well, 60 years ago, LBL started right here in Arlington. Small office right in the downtown area, and we’re still here. I keep saying we are the oldest architecture firm in Arlington, and there’s no reason to be anywhere else. 60 years.

Jacobson: During those 60 years, you’ve had some big projects. Take us back in time and tell us about some of the projects that defined LBL. 

McCarty: Well, I have a list. Here we go. No, no, not going through a list. But you know, 60 years, there’s a lot to choose from. But there are some things that just tend to stand out, that are a little bit unique or different. Who out there knows what Wet and Wild is? Yeah, it’s actually Hurricane Harbor now, but that was designed by our firm many, many years ago when drawings were sent by fax machine. There was no email. There was none of this other kind of stuff. So very innovative at the time to develop something of that nature right here. Unique, very impactful for the area, very memorable. 

One of the things though when I was thinking about that, you know, we do a lot, a lot for the Arlington ISD. And I had somebody do a count on how many schools are in the district. There’s like 75 schools, and we actually either were the original architect, we renovated, expanded, or whatever 35 of the 75/76 schools right here in Arlington. And I think about that as what is the impact that the designs that we’ve been able to to work on all those years, the impact on the kids in our community, and how we give back. And actually probably many of you people out here in the audience – Martin High School and Bowie High School – those were all things that were innovative that came out of our firm many, many years ago. 

So it’s not just one or two unique things or projects. It’s the idea of how our projects give back to the community. Nonprofits, a Boys and Girls Club, Alliance for Children, Mission Arlington. I mean, I literally could fill this book with thousands of projects over the years and how they’ve been an impact. And it’s really an impact back to us and how we perform our work.

Jacobson: Great companies have great leaders, and I want to turn to you for a second, not the company, but you. Great leaders, as I say, they drive the success. Obviously, the team performs, but it takes leadership. I always tell people, you, Tom McCarty, are an amazing reflection of what can be done in the Arlington educational system. So talk about being educated in Arlington and how that’s positioned you for where you are today.  

McCarty: Well, bringing up that it’s a system is key. I served on the Education Committee with the Chamber for a number of years, and that was where I could really see the alignment between the school districts, the Tarrant County College District and our Tier One University. I mean, how each of those leaders over the years have worked together to really enhance the students’ experience all the way on through; and for myself, going to all three of those institutions really has changed how I look at when bringing up other people in the community, students, and how we reflect back. But it really is a system. And personally, you know, all of my kids have gone through there. My family’s out here, by the way, and then my work family is out here also. But there’s no better place to get an education in North Texas, from my opinion.

Jacobson: So, where’d you go to high school?

McCarty: Arlington High.

Jacobson: Where’d you go to community college?

McCarty: Tarrant County College.

Jacobson: Where’d you go to college?

McCarty: UTA.

Jacobson: He’s all Arlington. You touched on this, and this is my last question for you. You touched on your team and your commitment to the community. One of the things I love about LBL is the way that you develop the next generation of leaders. When I talk about developing the next generation of leaders, it’s not just for the company, but it’s also for the community. Talk about that for a second.

McCarty: Well, a number of years ago, when the Chamber and the community had ideas about internships and how we can get individuals that are young to stay here, learn here, we volunteered pretty quickly. Probably eight years ago, we’ll go ahead and try out the intern program, and we’ve had high school interns in our facility working and learning about business. Not just architecture; sometimes it’s graphic design; sometimes it’s just business itself. Coming out of high school, and we’ve got individuals that are still full time employees that came through that program. 

The idea that we are growing leaders for tomorrow, it’s a mainstay for us, because, you know, we want those individuals to learn here and be an individual that’s contributing back to the community. That’s the idea as we grow together, not just as our firm, but again, the entire community here in Arlington. 

I do have something I forgot about. As an architect, and people are thinking, we’re always, you know, unique about the buildings and the end result. And you know, that’s what we’re working for, but we’re really working – this is the way we view things at LBL – we are servants to help you, as our clients, to bring your vision to life. That’s what we’re trained for. University of Texas, great program. We get a lot of folks that come through there, and it’s very interesting as we’re doing our projects and going through, there’s a number of times that it doesn’t go exactly how you would like it. You get to a point, and I don’t know where’s UTA out here? Oh, there we go. Okay, friends of ours, we like doing a lot with UTA. A number of times we’ll get down to the point, and they go, You know what? Maybe we’ll try something a little different. We see that as an opportunity for success and a challenge. And the group that we have, the individuals that we have in our firm, they jump at that opportunity because that’s what we want to do every single day. How can we serve you when your ideas change? 

Jacobson: Tom, it’s that servant heart that puts you and LBL into the Business Hall of Fame. Thank you very much.

The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce is extremely fortunate to have a wealth of generous businesses and individuals worthy of recognition in our community. Annually, the Chamber awards select individuals and businesses for the contribution they have made toward delivering on various aspects of the Chamber mission: “Together, We Champion Economic and Community Prosperity.” As part of the Annual Dinner, the Chamber bestows two honors on individuals and businesses who are pioneers in their industries, leaders in the greater Arlington community and exceptional volunteers.