DW4 —

Austin, TX / Office Building

Known as W4, this creative office sits in the middle of Domain NORTHSIDE’s busy mixed-use retail and restaurant corridor. Originally, this was a shell building that did not include a second floor. The design team was tasked with adding a second floor inside the existing volume in order to maximize the use of the existing space. “We were fortunate to have the original structural engineer on our team which was very helpful from the beginning. The original shell building did not have egress stairs or an elevator, which needed to be included in the design in order to provide access to the second floor creative office,” says project lead, Braulio Hurtado Jr., Mark Odom Studio. The bottom floor already housed the virtual reality company, Sandbox.

Published—
August 2020 / Featured in LoopNet
July 202o / Featured in OfficeLovin’
July 202o / Featured in Archello

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Specific details help it stand out: – the elevator core is covered in a pine comb siding and a mixture of different glazed and matte tiles were used in key areas – such as the bathroom washroom area and the break room area. A generous front and rear deck add an additional 1,275 SF of private outdoor space. The office was designed and built with the well-being of its inhabitants in mind. The space is naturally lit on all sides with skylights, an open floor plan focus and access to the outside.

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“Bringing natural light into the space was one of the most important elements. Views are framed by large windows and the openness to the outdoors allows the users to experience the busy streetscape, fresh air and sunlight”.

—Braulio Hurtado Jr.

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The creative office space at W4 also fits a niche and demand during these COVID-19 times for boutique office space with its own entrance, elevator bay, and private balconies.

“One thing we are seeing from a leasing standpoint is that tenants are looking for these types of boutique offices in this new environment. There is an appeal for dedicated office space so that they do not have to share with other tenant — no shared elevators, lobbies, stairwells, restrooms. All these factors reduce the possible interactions people may have and helps reduce transmission,” says Ryan Muscott, Development Manager, Northwood Retail.

Project Team /

Architect: Mark Odom Studio
Developer: Northwood Retail
MEP Engineer: Mint Engineering
Builder: Capital Constructors Group
Structural Engineer: Cardno
Waterproofing Consultant: Acton Partners
Deck Furniture: Design Within Reach, Domain Location

Photography: Andrea Calo