The newly revitalized 8,990-square-foot lobby of a 1980s office tower has been reimagined to create an active and inviting hub for office tenants and the public along Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
Photo: Casey Dunn
100 Congress
Austin, Texas
Drawing inspiration from Austin’s natural and cultural context, native plants activate the recessed garden at the public arrival pathway and seating area. At the parking garage entrance, tenants are greeted by Frijoles, an expansive, soft yarn tapestry handcrafted by Mexican artist Caralarga.
In the lobby, a centrally located café, illuminated by a custom cantilevered lantern that mirrors its size and shape, serves as an anchor and welcoming focal point within this volumetric space. Existing ceiling coves have been refinished in a dark, warm brown, creating a more intimate atmosphere. Two seating areas, featuring custom banquettes, flank the café to provide views of the exterior garden, while wood-clad walls, now draped in a metal mesh scrim with warm backlighting, catch the attention of passersby.
A former bank vault has been opened to accommodate a monumental new stair, drawing natural light into the spa-like fitness center on the lower level and creating a gallery wall to display In Pursuit, a painting by Francisco Moreno. Here, the center balances intimacy and airiness with a backlit wood-slatted ceiling and muted green tiles in the locker rooms, imparting a sense of craft.
Our client envisioned a more engaging lobby at 100 Congress that people wouldn’t simply pass through. With the central coffee stand, a visible entrance to the fitness center, and improved seating areas, we made it more accessible and purposeful. Now it’s a place to be.Kirsten Ring Murray, FAIA
Design Principal
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