Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department’s (PARD) long awaited Seaholm Waterfront project has entered its first phase of construction.
After 10 years of waiting, the Balfour Beatty Construction, PARD’s contractor, was given approval to move forward with rehabbing the 1950’s historic Art-Deco-style Seaholm Power Plant on Lady Bird Lake into a new downtown public space, Austin Towers reported.
“The contractor has 10 months to deliver the work, which (under the limited first phase of the project) is related to making the building safe, accessible and occupiable for small events. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this phase of the project should be completed in early summer 2022,” according to Kevin Johnson with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.
Construction of Phase 1 Rehabilitation of the Seaholm Intake Facility will focus on upgrading the building to make it usable, exterior cleaning of the facility, making it ADA accessible and retrofitting Building 3 as a support structure for events, a press release from the City of Austin said.
“These renovations will allow for activation of the space in the short-term, while preparations for the next phase of the Seaholm Waterfront Plan are developed in partnership with the Trail Foundation,” Johnson said.
According to an image featured in Austin Towers, Phase 2 of the project will include expanding the capacity of the Intake Building with new areas such as a Welcome Cafe, lake dock, pavilion and kitchen, office and restrooms. Phase 2 currently is in the initial stages of planning in partnership with the Trail Foundation, the City of Austin release said.
Phase 3 plans for the building include bringing back elements from the building’s past, installing a new gantry cane, increase façade openings and upgrading to high-performance windows, the image featured in Austin Towers shows.
In addition to partnering with the Trail Foundation for Phase 2 of the project, the Austin Parks Foundation and the architecture firm Cotera + Reed will also partner with PARD to develop the exterior remodel as shown by Chicago architecture studio Studio Gang who was in a design competition.
The Seaholm Intake facility, on the banks of Lady Bird Lake and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, was once the pump house for the Seaholm Power Plant complex. For decades it sat vacant after decommissioning. The plant was built in the 1950s and operated as a power plant until 1989 and was decommissioned in 1996.
The Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) is funding the project as well as general obligation bonds and parkland dedication fees, the City of Austin press release stated.
