Zina Garrison Tennis Academy

Houston, Texas 
2017 AIA Houston Design Award Winner

The Homer Ford Tennis Center, located on the 82-acre site of MacGregor Park, is well-known for its dedication to tennis education. Brays Bayou frames the park’s northern edge, while the Metro light rail station along Martin Luther King Boulevard marks the southeastern boundary near the park’s trail. Situated within walking distance of the University of Houston and just four miles from downtown, MacGregor Park has long been a hub for urban connectivity, linking the Third Ward and Sunnyside communities with prominent business leaders, educators, and professional athletes.

Zina Garrison, an Olympic gold medalist and Wimbledon finalist, grew up playing tennis at John Wilkerson’s free tennis program at MacGregor Park. Upon returning to Houston, Garrison and her coach, John Wilkerson, founded The Zina Garrison Tennis Academy—a free tennis education program inspired by Garrison’s accomplishments and Coach John’s legendary success in serving the community through tennis. The academy’s expansion reflects their unwavering commitment to nurturing the community one individual at a time. Its vision is to provide a state-of-the-art facility that supports education, wellness, and sportsmanship.

The design of the academy reinforces pedestrian connectivity by extending the existing trail through the site, reaching out toward the rail station, and encouraging public access for both users and non-users alike. By reorienting the entry from the north to the south, the trail extension creates a direct connection between the campus and public transportation, eliminating the need for additional parking. Pathways widen beneath large overhangs or the shade of existing oak and pine trees, providing seating areas for tennis spectators.

The arrangement of the four indoor tennis courts prioritizes the preservation of the existing vegetated open space. The courts are sunken into the site, reducing energy costs associated with cooling the building. Positioned along the site’s edges, the courts create a defined, accessible enclosure, contributing to the overall design’s sense of openness and integration with the natural landscape.