Dan Phillips, the designer of Smither Park, has an international reputation for his innovative, artistic and visionary approach to construction. He is the founder of The Phoenix Commotion, a business that builds affordable homes from free, salvaged and recycled materials.

Phillips holds several academic degrees including a doctorate in education from the University of North Carolina. His creative designs have been heralded around the world.

    A selection of Dan’s awards, speaking engagements and media attention includes:

Selected Awards

1. 2003 Award for Most Innovative Housing Worldwide; Institute for Social Intervention, London England
   

1. 2010 Gold Medal, Edison Green Award sponsored by Rutgers University, New York
   

1. 2010 First Place, Environmental Excellence Award, Texas Commission on Environment Quality

Selected Speaking Venues

1. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin Texas
   

1. School of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station Texas
   

1. School of Architecture, University of Texas, Austin Texas
   

1. School of Architecture, Boston College, Boston Massachusetts
   

1. School of Architecture, University of Kansas, Lawrence Kansas
   

1. School of Architecture, Rice University, Houston Texas

Selected Media Recognition

1. People Magazine, New York Times (3 page feature article), Reader’s Digest, Hanamatsu magazine (Tokyo).
   

1. Television coverage by CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, PBS, HGTV, Discovery Channel, Planet Green.
   

1. Media coverage from Ireland, Paris, and Italy.
   

1. Better Bones and Gardens- Documentary (Trailer shown below)

    “A park that caters to all ages is always good. But a park that caters to the human spirit is simply magnificent.”

                      Dan Phillips