The Heard-Craig in McKinney, Texas was designed by J.E. Flanders, a famous architect who designed multiple buildings in Dallas and surrounding areas. James Edward Flanders started his career in Chicago, spent many successful years in Texas, and then moved to California where he received another certification, No. 1255.

His impressive career began with the 1877 Binkley Hotel located in Sherman, Texas. Is is now a historical marker located in front of a bank (due to a fire which caused the building to burn). The Rockwall County Courthouse was also designed by Flanders in 1878. This building, too, burned down in 1891.

Flanders ended up designing many courthouses throughout his Texas career, the Navarro County Courthouse in Corsicana, the Eastland County Courthouse in Eastland, and the Nolan County Courhouse in Sweetwater just to name a few. His most impressive accomplishments, still viewed and admired today, are most of the buildings in Fair Park such as the Coliseum and the Exhibition Building. He designed these for the very first Texas State Fair.

Today, another architect has been instrumental in sharing great things with McKinney and with the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts. His name is Paige Close and he's helping design a community event which will be open to the public. Stay tuned for more information and tickets in the months ahead. www.heardcraig.org (events tab)