April 16, 2026
Dallas, Texas—April 16, 2026—It is with great pride and excitement that Merriman Anderson Architects celebrates the beginning of our 40th year in business. On April 16, 1987, Jerry and Deby Merriman founded Merriman Associates Architects, Inc. (MAA) with faith, vision, and determination. After leaving George Dahl’s office with three colleagues to start a new firm, Jerry soon realized he was ready to chart his own course—and the rest is history.
From the very beginning, MAA was truly a family business. Jerry led business development, cold calling, and architectural work, while Deby managed accounting, typed proposals, and faithfully hoped—and prayed—that the phone would ring. Their children, Craig and Paige, pitched in wherever they could, making copies and helping fill in the gaps.
With Jerry’s determination, Deby’s behind-the-scenes support, a bit of luck, and the encouragement of close friends and valued relationships, MAA quickly gained momentum. Before long, offices in Preston Center and Downtown Dallas were up and running, with a growing team working on tenant improvements, restaurants, industrial shell-and-build-to-suit projects, and limited-service hotels.
At a client’s request, MAA expanded beyond Texas, opening satellite offices in Boca Raton, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry always believed in being where opportunity called and understanding what it took to succeed. In 1995, David Masters joined the firm, bringing additional leadership and expertise. Shortly thereafter, in 1997, Milton Anderson joined as Director of Design. With this expanding leadership, the firm’s portfolio grew to include speculative and corporate office buildings, multi-family developments, retail, education, and entertainment projects.
In 2002, the firm returned to its Downtown Dallas roots, moving into its current home at 300 N. Field Street in the heart of the central business district. That four-story black-glass building has remained our home ever since. Around this time, our passion for urban development took on new life, with a focus on historic adaptive reuse and mixed-use projects in Downtown Dallas.
The firm continued to strengthen its design leadership with the addition of John Carruth in 2004, who is now our Design Director and Principal. In the early 2000s, we began identifying downtown buildings that, to put it politely, needed both renewal and purpose. Following early successes in this area, Jennifer Picquet-Reyes joined the firm in 2011, bringing extensive experience in historic restoration and adaptive reuse. Her leadership elevated this practice area to new heights, and today, as Director of Hospitality and Adaptive Reuse and Principal, she and her team lead adaptive reuse projects nationwide.
In 2014, MAA expanded into Austin with the formation of Merriman Pitt Anderson (MPA), and in 2017, the Dallas office was rebranded as Merriman Anderson Architects, Inc. Following Jerry’s retirement in September 2020, Milton Anderson assumed the role of President. We have continued to refine our craft and expand our reach, growing into Downtown Fort Worth and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region (Covington), supported by strong leadership and continued success.
We are deeply grateful for the many past and present members of the MAA team and look forward to continued growth across all our offices. Our current senior leadership represents more than 130 years of combined service and dedication to the firm. We are equally thankful for our exceptional clients across the country who continue to trust us with meaningful challenges and opportunities.
As we celebrate this milestone year, we dedicate our 40th anniversary to our founder, leader, mentor, and friend, Jerry Merriman, who passed away on May 25, 2023. We remain committed to carrying forward his legacy with the same vision, passion, and dedication. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Deby, Craig, and Paige Merriman for their lasting contributions and continued support.
Over the coming months, we look forward to sharing stories and memories from our four decades of experience. Stay tuned, and God bless.
Sincerely,
Milton Anderson, President