St. Edward’s University Holy Cross Hall
Austin, Texas
Built in 1903, Holy Cross Hall was designed as a student dormitory by Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton in the Gothic Revival style. The building had been heavily modified throughout its history including a 1922 tornado, which left the building partially demolished, and a variety of non-original finishes from 1970-1980. The rapid rebuilding process in 1923 led to formation of weak concrete floor slabs throughout.
To address internal structural deficiencies and restore the building’s exterior, Architexas was hired by St. Edward’s University and Baldridge Architects to provide preservation consultation for the rehabilitation of Holy Cross Hall. Architexas performed an in-depth survey and assessment of the building’s exterior, documenting each deficient stone, each window and its needs, and provided recommendations for restoration.
Additionally, the interior lacked historic fabric and was completely rebuilt with modern finishes. Architexas provided preservation consultation and historic research for Baldridge Architects to complete their design that accommodated the University’s modern needs. Baldridge Architects included several gestures paying homage to the building’s original interior design including stair tower, wood flooring, and corridor layout. Photos taken by Baldridge Architects.
