A project team led by contractor SpawGlass will begin a $70-million renovation of the University of Texas' 27-story Tower, the centerpiece of the flagship university in Austin.
Architectural firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects is leading the project's design. Construction is scheduled to begin in November.
According to the university, the renovation of the nearly 90-year-old tower will be a multi-year effort to restore, revitalize and reimagine the 27-story structure. The first phase, restoring the tower’s exterior, is scheduled for a summer 2027 completion. This phase includes restoring the stone, windows, lighting, clock face and historical gilding on its exterior, according to the university.
The renovation also includes repainting metal and wooden surfaces their original color, reapplying gilding to its clock and cast-iron spandrels, and rebuilding east and west entrances. An LED-based lighting system will be placed on the roof and energy-efficient windows will be installed. Plans also call for revitalizing key interior spaces for new uses for students and staff.
This will be the first-ever renovation of the Tower, which was completed in 1937. The exterior shows rusty windows, flaking paint and grime on the limestone, while inside, workers complain about lack of hot water and frequent elevator outages.
After the Tower’s renovation is complete, Kevin P. Eltife, chair of the University of Texas Board of Regents, said, “We want that Tower to be picture perfect, restored to its original beauty.”
From the beginning, the University of Texas Austin had towering aspirations for the structure. The Tower was designed by renowned architect Paul Cret, and construction began in 1934 with W.S. Bellows Construction Co. serving as general contractor. Cret’s original plans called for only 11 floors, but with additional funding from the Works Progress Administration, the university opted to go beyond Cret’s original plans.
The renovation project’s original cost was estimated at $50 million, increased due to rising construction costs, according to the university.
