UT Austin Dobie House
Austin, Texas
Architexas was hired by the University of Texas at Austin to renovate a one-story detached wood framed garage at the historic J. Frank Dobie House. The property is a local, state, and national landmark for its association with J. Frank Dobie, an important literary figure in Texas, the Southwest, and the nation. The garage was built in the 1930s and was used as a storage space by the University. The Michener Center for Writers, a residence program located at the adjacent Dobie House, sought to re-imagine the garage for academic use.
Architexas provided architectural services to renovate the garage and to create an addition with a shaded wood deck. The garage is located within both a 25-year and 100-year floodplain. To help mitigate potential damage from future flooding, the building was lifted and the garage foundation was reconstructed two feet higher than before. The project included new gravel driveway and parking area, stabilized decomposed granite parking spaces, and ADA accessible pathway. Landscaping work was limited to removal of invasive bamboo, and installation of stone and metal edging. The Michener Center now has a state of the art seminar room with increased accessibility, improved student comfort, and flexible outdoor gathering space.
