Project: Austin Visitors Center Office
Architects: Runa Workshop
Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Size: 13,000 square feet
Photography: Courtesy of Runa Workshop
The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is the home to some of Austin’s biggest fans. Their mission is to market Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination to enrich our community’s overall quality of life. They do this by promoting all of the things in Austin that people are already talking about to ensure that people know all about Austin’s one-of-a-kind culture and universal appeal. As such, their office had to reflect some of the uniqueness that Austin has to offer. The richness of the natural finishes mixed in with the eclectic artwork and beautiful views from a downtown location made this space the perfect reflection of Austin for ACVB.
Embracing the vibrant nature of Austin, and expanding on the concepts used for the Austin Visitors Center, the design reinterprets the Visitor Center energy into an office environment. Volumetric elements create a grand entry sequence with contrasting textures and elevations. The wood element connects the two conference rooms and defines the pre-function lounge space, while the black portal delineates the boundaries between public and employee area.
Pops of color and graphics are placed throughout work spaces to define areas of collaboration and informal meeting spaces. The curated graphics by Runa Workshop reflect aspects related to the core departments of the ACVB offices, music, convention, and film. The graphic at the entry is an abstracted city plan, with the colors representing music venues across the city. The large blue skyline leading to the work area reflects the growth of the city, and the work area graphic pays tribute to the Austin film.
