Since its transformation from a library to an archive in 1983, the Austin History Center building has served as the primary keeper of Austin’s history. In these nearly fifty years, the city has experienced explosive growth and has developed into a nationally recognized cultural hub, filling the building to capacity.
The purpose of this project was to expand the history center’s overflowing archives into the adjacent Faulk building. Together these buildings represent the previous two generations of Austin’s central libraries. With this project they are brought together into a single repository of the city’s history, even as they themselves are gaining historical and architectural significance.
The 1933 Renaissance Revival Austin History Center building was designed by Hugo Kuehne and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a Registered Texas Historic Landmark, and is a City of Austin Landmark. The Faulk is also architecturally significant, exhibiting rectilinear New Formalist exterior features and an exposed waffle slab ceiling structure on the interior.
The project began with planning and programming so that the two buildings would function as a unified archive. High-density shelving was installed and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were upgraded.
The history center exterior was cleaned and repaired. Damaged limestone blocks were replaced. Exterior doors and metal ornamentation were restored, and protected. Historic light fixtures were removed, beautifully refurbished and reinstalled. The decorative painting at the loggia ceiling, one of the building’s signature features, was restored.
The Faulk building exterior was cleaned and the interior rehabilitated to provide lobbies, reading rooms, offices, and conference space. Spaces on the first floor create a public entrance to a grand space.
This work was performed in collaboration with Lord Aeck Sargent Architects.
