Situated in downtown Austin, 816 Congress is a outstanding 20-story excessive rise in-built 1983. IA Inside Architects was tapped to finish the most recent spherical of renovations for the landmark. With a hospitality-focused redesign, the architects created a user-friendly atmosphere that celebrates the essence of the locale. “The preliminary idea was to activate the constructing for the trendy period, whereas preserving its historic significance as a result of it’s on Congress Avenue,” says Kendi Sparks, venture director at IA Inside Architects.
The affect begins on the entrance, the place a black ribbon of hot-rolled metal wraps the constructing, and gives a daring distinction in opposition to the facade of grey granite. As soon as hidden by a colonnade, a column was eliminated, and it’s now a extra seen, welcoming portal. To proceed the unified theme the design additionally includes a sequence of arches on the exterior and inside.
Vital updates have been made to key areas over three flooring, reworking the beforehand darkish areas into an ethereal, refined setting. There’s a distinctive mix of a West Texas aesthetic and Austin’s personal eclectic character, highlighted through a curated collection of supplies and textures.
A bespoke stone reception desk, for instance, anchors the foyer. With a customized rope set up by native fiber artist Ellen Bruxvoort, the piece is a standout. A suspended illumination characteristic not solely echoes the loops of a cowboy’s lasso, however can be a nod to the large skies of the Lone Star State. The impartial colour palette, impressed by the desert panorama, enhances raked plaster, wooden, terrazzo, and black steel parts all through.
Retail and coworking-style areas are on the decrease flooring, designed for multi-use and to foster collaboration among the many tenants. Seamless connections between indoors and out are additionally emphasised. The revamped courtyard echoes the curve motif and extends the backyard expertise indoors. A terrace, supreme for occasions, boasts views of the Texas State Capitol.
The brand new amenity middle boasts a spread of choices for work and recreation actions. This hub features a breakroom, conferencing areas, and lounge sections with comfy furnishings. In an enclosed house on the fifteenth ground, the golf simulator is a favourite of customers who need to good their swing throughout the day.
The considerate renovation enhances the enchantment of 816 Congress, with trendy and traditional touches – plus the expertise crucial in at the moment’s business environments. “It’s inviting, and with the mixture of particulars, feels extra like a front room versus an area that’s extra formal and monotone,” Sparks provides.
For extra info on IA Inside Architects, go to interiorarchitects.com.
Pictures by Andrea Calo.
