A project team led by contractor SpawGlass will begin a $70 million renovation of the 27-story University of Texas Tower, the centerpiece of Austin’s flagship university.
The architecture firm Robert AM Stern Architects is leading the design of the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in November.
The renovation of the nearly 90-year-old tower will be a multi-year effort to restore, revitalize and reimagine the 27-story structure, according to the university. The first phase, the restoration of the tower’s exterior, is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2027. This phase includes the restoration of the stonework, windows, lighting, clock face and historic gilding on the exterior, according to the university.
The renovation also includes repainting the metal and wooden surfaces to their original color, re-gilding the clock and cast iron spikes, and rebuilding the east and west entrances. An LED lighting system will be placed on the roof and energy efficient windows will be installed. The plans also call for revitalizing key interior spaces for new uses for students and staff.
This will be the first renovation of the Tower, which was completed in 1937. The exterior shows rusted windows, peeling paint and grime on the limestone, while inside, workers complain of a lack of hot water and the frequent interruptions of the elevators.
When the tower renovation is complete, Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents, said, “We want the tower to be perfect, restored to its original beauty.”
From the beginning, the University of Texas at Austin had high aspirations for the structure. The tower was designed by renowned architect Paul Cret, and construction began in 1934 with WS Bellows Construction Co. as a general contractor. Cret’s original plans only called for 11 stories, but with additional funding from the Works Progress Administration, the university chose to go beyond Cret’s original plans.
The original cost of the renovation project was estimated at $50 million, increased due to increased construction costs, according to the university.
