The primary focus of this tour was "Adaptive Reuse" Architecture but we also enjoyed wonderful Art, Food, and Central Texas history.

The Hotel San Jose

Our group stayed at Austin's landmark Hotel San Jose, a wonderful example of adaptive-reuse architecture as it was re-imagined/re-designed in the early 2000s through a collaboration between owner Liz Lambert and the Lake | Flato architecture firm.

Atop the Austonian, an Introduction to Austin

Celebrated Austin architect friends Larry Speck and Emily Little led us on walks of Austin's downtown development and history starting from high-atop Austin's highest building, the 55-story Austonian tower. The Austonian's General Manager Stuart Tyrrell pointed out how the Frost Bank building looks very much like an owl.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andy Austin: Federal Courthouse

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andy Austin warmly greeted us at the Austin Federal Courthouse (opened 2013) on Republic Square Park for which he was involved in the design and planning process. He spoke and gave us a wonderful close up look at artist Clifford Ross' "Austin Wall" and the interior of a courtroom.

Downtown Walking Tour

While strolling, Larry Speck and Emily Little told us fascinating stories about downtown Austin history and development. Emily guided us around her historic restoration projects at the Seaholm Power Plant EcoDistrict (the first of its kind in Texas) build around the sleek mid-century Seaholm power plant on the shores of Austin's waterfront, Ladybird Lake. Afterwards we enjoyed a delightful and delicious lunch and conversation with Judge Andy Austin at True Food Kitchen inside the Seaholm EcoDistrict. The adjacent $125M Lake|Flato-designed Austin Central Libraryis scheduled to open sometime in the spring of 2017.

The Charles Moore Foundation

Executive Director Kevin Keim gave us a wonderfully stimulating and intimate tour of the eclectic Charles Moore Foundation and a glimpse inside the mind of the eponymous architect.

The Lake Austin House

We visited two Lake | Flato lakeside homes and met their owners, the Lake Austin House, and the Hog Pen Creek House. Both homes are beautifully situated on Lake Austin and both are winners of multiple architectural prizes. The Lake Austin House owners are internationally renowned contemporary art collectors & patrons.

The Hog Pen Creek Residence

This house won a prestigious 2016 AIA Housing Award!

Sekrit Theater & Justine's Restaurant

Our evening activities included a tour of East Austin Secret Sekrit Theater by owner Beau Reichert followed by a dinner with Beau at the French Bistro Justine's Restaurant in East Austin.

Spring 2017: The Sekrit Theater is on the real estate market for sale for $3.5M (!)

Mission San Jose & The Alamo

The morning started with a drive to San Antonio where our first leisurely stop was the iconic Mission San Jose (1720). We also briefly viewed another famous San Antonio Mission, The Alamo.

La Villita

La Villita Historic Arts Village is located in a historic early San Antonio settlement location where the San Antonio River Walk also had its begining in 1939.

Lake | Flato Office

Architect David Lake and his associates Carla Greer and Robert Hoang treated us to a personal tour of the Lake | Flato architects offices. We were shown the architectural model used during the design process for The Plant at Kyle where we held our tour finale dinner the next evening.

Hotel Emma

Sherry Kafka Wagner told us about the history of San Antonio and the River Walk while showing us her amazing book collection inside the newly opened Hotel Emma library that is part of the adaptive-reuse Pearl Brewery complex that the Lake|Flato firm helped to plan.

River Walk

As we strolled from the Hotel Emma to the San Antonio Art Museum and Overland Partners Architecture Offices, Sherry Kalfka Wagner, Katie Luber, and Rick Archer told us about the River Walk's recently completed (2009) "Museum Reach".

San Antonio Museum of Art

San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) Director Katie Luber gave us a hard-hat tour of the work-in-progress renovation at her museum (adaptive reuse of the former Lone Star Brewery complex).

Overland Partners

Founding Principal Rick Archer and Architect Charles Schneider gave us a wonderful tour of their Overland Partners offices, an adaptive reuse of a former warehouse.

Gruene, TX

We dined at the Gristmill Restaurant (adaptive-reuse of a former Gristmill) in the historic town of Gruene, TX boasting one of our country's best preserved dance halls (and the oldest in Texas).

Waller Creek & the Downtown Austin Natural Environment

On our final day landscape architect Daniel Woodroffe, President and Founder of DWG, spoke to us about the Waller Creek Conservancy, and related natural asset conservation efforts in downtown Austin.

Canopy Artist Complex

We made a brief stop at the Canopy artist complex (adaptive reuse of a former Goodwill donation processing center) to view art (and people watch).

The Plant at Kyle Banquet Finale

Illuminated by the golden light of a setting sun, we spent our final evening with a mix of our local hosts and guests at a lavish banquet by Chef Steve Couch at Mark & Dana's Austin architectural gem The Plant at Kyle (adaptive-reuse of a former cement plant).