West 49th Street
Adaptive Reuse Meets Thoughtful Infill
Austin, TX
This office park joins new construction with adaptive reuse through strategic site design, connective exterior spaces and a sensitivity to scale. Despite being commercially zoned, this property had been deemed unbuildable due to the compatibility setbacks triggered by single family residences to the rear. The building’s footprint was dictated by setbacks on all four sides. A variance was requested from the city to park in the compatibility setback, which they understood to be a hardship and granted the variance.
The West 49th Street building form takes cues from the residential neighborhood surrounding it — we wanted to be mindful of scale, vernacular, and materiality of the neighborhood. Materials used are timeless, sustainable, and will last for hundreds of years to come.
Mark Odom
Austin Office Director
In addition to the new construction, the site takes advantage of an existing stone house on the corner of the lot. This adaptive reuse project expanded the existing footprint with a similar language and design aesthetic. The one story Grover Office is naturally lit on all sides, and its interior was entirely rebuilt. The exterior stone, however, was preserved in order to maintain its context within the neighborhood.
