A prominent corner in Austin’s established Central Business District presented a unique opportunity to create an iconic tower that matches the city’s progressive urban spirit. The property developer wanted to explore opportunities to give more back to the city on the .42-acre sliver site than the originally approved standalone parking structure. Through concept design and city approvals, an inspired mixed-use solution was realized.
The sculptural form contrasts office levels behind folded glass planes above an earth-tone parking podium. The patterning of the terra cotta toned base echoes the character of the building's street-level context. The combination of solid cladding and high-performing glass maximizes views, enhances natural daylighting, and provides an energy-conscious building enclosure.
The architecture presents a dynamic image from every direction, yet two prominent outdoor spaces—the street-level entry and the open sky lobby—reflect the building’s dynamic experience. These spaces allow users a seamless transition from an active pedestrian zone to the inspiring work environment cultivated within. The sky lobby’s outdoor terrace opens to fresh air and views of Austin’s growing skyline. 405 Colorado upholds the City of Austin Great Streets Development Program with expanded sidewalks, street trees, a generous entrance canopy and a mosaic art wall.
What were the key challenges?
The project’s location—on a prominent corner in an established downtown district of office projects, shops, cafes and entertainment venues—presented a unique opportunity for signature architectural design to meet the challenges of the new, progressive urban spirit emerging in the city.
As is often the case with such a strong architectural design statement, the project presented many challengesin the city permitting and approvals process as well as in the public eye. From the signature form and the building’s office core, to celebrating and articulating the cladding parking level, 405 Colorado presents a unique and bold profile in Austin. The team—designers, clients, consultants—remained committed to making a building that was distinct and unexpected. The process required courage and the reward is a deeply engaging building that expresses the spirit of Austin.
What materials did you choose and why?
As the first project along Fourth Street developed under the Austin Great Streets Program, 405 Colorado sets a precedent for how to address the urban condition. To reflect the city’s progressive urban spirit, the distinct form, inspired by the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, answers client needs for parking with an earth-tone base supporting a multifaceted glass jewel that encloses open office levels.
Generous sidewalks shape an inviting and active pedestrian zone that incorporates natural elements, including wood and earth-tone terracotta, and features such as public art, ample seating areas and shade trees welcome street life into the building. The building’s materiality, colors and tones echo the surrounding warehouse district. The building cladding, both the tower skin and the garage skin is comprised of unitized systems. The skin of the glass office levels uses a four-sided SSG unitized curtain wall.
The lobby, like the tower, was conceived to have two characteristics—warm and cool—that recall the building’s exterior. A faceted, glass mosaic art wall was installed on the coolside of the lobby; on the warm side, a woven wood wall echoes the skin of garage levels. The mosaic wall uses artistic Italian tiles with traditional techniques, following centuries of mosaic-making in Italy. However, the approach is modern, with a linear pixelated aesthetic that shapes the experience of the interior and the view into the space for passersby through the lobby’s floor-to-ceiling glass. The lobby’s design further reinforces the design’s vision to connect to downtown life.
Multifaceted glass facades fold vertically and horizontally to shape and taper the building’s office levels. Along the south elevation, the folds are oriented toward distant views. This envelope is distinct from the north elevation, which is composed of solid metal elements with glass for views back to the State Capital.
The garage acts as a podium for the office tower and is clad in a warm metal screening woven basket, creating a sense of solidity at the tower’s base. Alternate arrangements of solid and screening elements minimize the visibility of cars, enclosing an open-air garage configuration that eliminates mechanical ventilation. The design’s combination of solid cladding and high-performance glass maximizes exterior views, enhances natural daylight, and provides an energy-conscious building envelope.
Team:
Architects: Duda|Paine Architects
Owner: Brandywine Reality Trust
Design and Record Architect: Duda|Paine Architects
Structural Engineer: Brockette Davis Drake
MEP Engineer: Blum Consulting Engineers
Landscape Architects: Coleman & Associates
Civil Engineer: Stantec
Telecom/Security and AV Engineer: Datacom Design Group
General Contractor: JE Dunn
Millworker responsible for custom benches and table in lobby: MockingBird Made
Curtain Wall Contractor: Haley Greer
Metal Panel Contractor: Kovach
Photo credits: Leonid Furmansky
Material Used:
1. Facade cladding: Composite Fire Resistive Metal Panels, Alpolic
2. Glazing: Tower Glass, VRE 6-46, Viracon
3. Flooring: Natural Stone, Jet Mist Granite, Coldspring
4. Doors: Folding Glass Doors, SL-70, Nanawall
5. Roofing: Modified Bituminous Membrane, Dynabase HW, Johns Manville
6. Interior lighting: Spot Downlight, Entra 3” LED, Tech Lighting, Linear Downlight; Neo-Ray LED, Cooper Lighting
7. Interior furniture: Solid Wood, Custom Benches, Mockingbird Made; Live Edge Wood and Epoxy, Custom Table, Mockingbird Made
8. Interior Tile Wall: Lobby Mosaic Tile, Sicis
9. Exterior Terrace: Linear Metal Ceilings, Metalworks Linear Exterior, Armstrong
10. Italian Glass Mosaic Manufacturer: SICIS
