This design for a new mixed-use building at the corner of 5th & Walsh Streets in west Austin aims to create a new threshold into downtown that models a healthy development approach to the future of Austin. With 4 floors of office over ground-level retail, the 200,000 sf building maximizes porosity across the full city block that it occupies. The layout prioritizes collaborative space that is open to the community as well as tenants, with a series of portals, courtyards, and bridges punctuating the block. The massing and courtyards are also shaped to protect a large heritage oak on the site.
REDEFINING HEALTHY URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Designed at Lake Flato Architects
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Location
Austin, TXGround
UrbanProgram
Mixed-UseIntervention
SpeculativeSize
200,000 sfServices
Exploration & Preliminary Design -
Design Architect
Lake Flato Architects
RENDERINGS BY FROST VISUALIZATIONS
The structure is designed as a hybrid, combining mass timber components with more traditional steel and concrete elements. Each material is leveraged to maximize efficiency while telling the story of the site: concrete and steel recall the industrial sites that were historically located throughout this area, while timber balconies and roof overhangs prominently define the building edges, calling attention to wood as a beautiful and healthy building material for the future.
The envelope was designed with thorough attention to daylighting studies. Shading devices on the east, south, and west facades further protect the already deep-set windows from overexposure. The overall window-to-wall ratio that is efficient for heating and cooling, with full-height glazing utilized strategically to highlight shared communal spaces.
Developed by Endeavor, this is an example of how large-scale projects can push boundaries despite the complexities and constraints of market-driven development.