TEXTILES.ORG
In the summer of 2024, Houston Tents & Events (HTE) joined the producers of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to film a special episode in the Houston, Texas, area. The episode, featuring HTE’s behind-the-scenes contributions, aired Jan. 30 on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.
Known for transforming the lives of deserving families by building stunning new homes, the beloved series, which first debuted in 2004, returned to ABC’s primetime lineup in January 2025 after several years off the air.
For the Houston episode, the producers enlisted Darren Randle and the HTE team to provide essential onsite facilities and infrastructure during the construction process. Filmed in the Cypress area during the summer of 2024, HTE’s contributions included providing tents and shelter for cast and crew members, sponsors, and the many community volunteers who came together in collaboration with nationwide homebuilder Taylor Morrison Homes to build a new house for the Elrod family.
“We did it all, furnishing and outfitting everything from the VIP tents to the breakrooms for volunteers,” said Darren Randle, founder and owner of Houston Tents & Events. “Of course, we also provided air-conditioning because this is Houston, and cool air was a necessity on site for everyone.”
The featured episode, titled “The Elrod Family,” tells the story of a Houston family who tragically lost their home, grandmother and pet cat in a devastating fire.
While Randle couldn’t personally attend the filming, HTE’s work is prominently featured throughout the episode. The opportunity to work with the show’s production team reinforced Randle’s belief in the high-quality service Houston Tents & Events provides to its clients. With Houston attracting more productions like this one, Randle sees a growing demand for companies that can reliably support large-scale projects.
“It was a tremendous honor for Houston Tents & Events to play a part in the episode and a testament to the quality of service we provide to our clients,” Randle said. “They called us, and of the few local companies they looked into, our glowing reviews made us their first choice.”
The company installed several LIRI NHT Structure Tents in various 6m, 9m and 12m profiles, as well as flooring. “HTE provided some of its Dura-Trac® subflooring in all of the tents including the sponsor/Taylor Morrison hospitality tent for the various supporters in the community as well as the volunteer break tent and the construction tents where parts of the house like furniture, drawers, cabinetry, doors, etc. are put together,” Randle explains. “We also were responsible for the generators and temporary power distribution, and our friends at the local Power Solutions Herc division discounted some of the HVAC units for
the project.”
Founded in 2020 during the challenges of the pandemic, HTE has grown to become a trusted partner for clients across the region. For Randle, this project reflects the company’s commitment to community and excellence.
“Since I started this company, we’ve always been committed to the community, and a project like this lets our talents shine,” Randle added. “The fact that we played a role in helping a Houston family get the home of their dreams is truly humbling.”