Situated on 19 acres fronting Austin’s Lady Bird Lake, the 305 South Congress development will introduce new mixed-use amenities including space for office, hotel, retail, entertainment and public uses. The revitalization of this prime lakefront location invites Austin locals and visitors alike to enjoy improved access to the district’s sprawling shoreline.

SOM’s master plan envisions a balance of new construction and preservation of public land along the former industrial site, of which 13 acres will be dedicated to celebrating the site’s ample natural resources through new plazas, bike trails, open space and communal amenities. Wide sidewalks featuring public art, and improved platforms for viewing the bats which reside within the Congress Avenue Bridge, will integrate local culture throughout the landscape. The proposed design also includes an amphitheater, boardwalk, and pier, merging community space with the shoreline.

Accessibility underpins all facets of the master plan; in the course of developing the project, SOM’s design team conducted an assessment of the world’s greatest waterfronts, concluding that unrestricted access is a shared attribute across all of these sites. The pedestrian-oriented plan creates a more vibrant, welcoming lakefront in the context of a rapidly urbanizing city. Reconnecting the city with the waterfront will benefit local communities, businesses, stakeholders, and visitors, bolstering Austin’s reputation as a globally recognized destination.