08.31.2023

Today’s Forecast

102º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:02 a.m. | Sunset 8:02 p.m.

🏗 Austin’s architectural eras

Honoring Austin’s architectural footprint with Dick Clark + Associates

The Mountain Top house is unassuming in the front, but has a cliffside party in the back. | Photo by Dror Baldinger FAIA

The South Congress Hotel, The Oasis, Perlas, Lonesome Dove, and Flyrite Chicken — these are just a few buildings designed by Dick Clark + Associates.

Opened in 1979 by late architect Dick Clark, who has been called the godfather of contemporary architecture, DC + A works on both boutique commercial and residential projects in the Capital City.

We sat down with the firm’s principal Mark Vornberg, along with partners Kim Power and Kristopher White — who have a collective 54 years of experience at DC + A — to talk about how the firm innovates within Austin’s existing landscape.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Kristopher White, Kim Power, and Mark Vornberg standing on the stairwell at their office. — Kristopher White, Kim Power, and Mark Vornberg have worked on some of Austin’s most iconic projects, like the South Congress Hotel and The Oasis.
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Photo courtesy of DC + A

You’ve each been with DC + A for a long time — 27 years for Mark, 16 years for Kim, and 11 for Kris. Can you tell me how the architecture and design landscape has changed in Austin?

Mark | “In 27 years, Austin has changed a whole lot and it has always been growing, but it really has a very different feel. In the 90s, it was much more of a UT and a state legislature town. Downtown had very few tall buildings. Austin has really evolved into a big city feel, and [become] very diverse. I think UT in particular has brought in a lot of diversity that wasn’t here naturally.”

ATX_DCAofficejuxtapose — The DC + A office, which is shared with Scott + Cooner, was completed in 2020.
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Photos courtesy Google Maps, DC + A, gif by ATXtoday

Can you tell me about your favorite projects DC + A has built?

Mark | “I love our office here. One of my biggest things is, what is the potential of the site or the building? How do we get to that potential? Some of the hardest sites are the ones where I feel like we fulfill its potential the most. Taking a pawn shop with no windows, and turning it into a really light, airy, inside-outside connected office and retail space is, I think, a good story of what can be done.”

Kristopher | “Those are our favorite projects, the ones that are challenging.”

Get to know DC + A

Events

Thursday, Aug. 31

ATX Urban Art Exhibition Opening Event | Thursday, Aug. 31 | 6-9 p.m. | Bee Cave Arts Foundation, The Hive Gallery, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Ste. T-125, Bee Cave | Free | Check out the new exhibit on graffiti, street art, murals, and mosaics at this opening reception.
Carin Leon | Thursday, Aug. 31 | 8 p.m. | The Moody Center | $70-$564 | See the star live on stage for his “Colmillo De Leche” tour.

Friday, Sept. 1

Sleeping With Sirens | Friday, Sept. 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Emo’s Austin, 2015 E. Riverside Dr., Austin | $30 | Dead American and Tx 2 will also perform at this south Austin show.

Saturday, Sept. 2

Austin Cactus & Succulent Society Fall Show & Sale | Saturday, Sept. 2-Sunday, Sept. 3 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free with admission | Peruse rare specimens and shop plants and hand-crafted pottery.
Adrian Quesada’s Jaguar Sound | Saturday, Sept. 2 | 8 p.m. | The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $29-$59 | Celebrate the Long Center’s 15th birthday with this show featuring Black Pumas’ Grammy Award-winning Adrian Quesada.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Drink

If you’re going to drink light beer, drink Modelo Oro

four young, hip-looking people "cheers" with Modelo beers

Modelo Oro is 4.0% ABV. | Photo provided by Constellation Brands

It has all the flavor of a regular Modelo, but with just 90 calories and three carbs. (Yes, you read that right.)

Masterfully brewed for over 90 years, Modelo Oro is a sessionable cerveza that seals in Modelo’s golden flavor and exceptionally smooth taste for a clean, crisp finish every time.

Get it wherever you purchase your beer, or order a six-pack online. Cheers.

Drink Modelo Oro

News Notes

Weather

The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas asked residents Tuesday to limit evening power usage. That makes seven times since mid-August — and ERCOT expects that weather patterns will continue to strain the grid. Expect more calls to conserve power through September. (Austin-American Statesman)

Announced

Travis Scott’s “Circus Maximus” tour will visit the Moody Center on Tuesday, Nov. 21 — his first performance in Austin since headlining ACL in 2018. Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. (KXAN)

Development

StoryBuilt is seeking $2.5 million in new funding from investors to stave off “financial Armageddon.” The request comes via the developer’s court-appointed receivership, an arrangement which assists businesses on the verge of bankruptcy. (Austin-American Statesman)

Eat

From this Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 17, 100+ local eateries will offer prix-fixe menus starting at $20, plus specialty menu items for Austin Restaurant Weeks. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Central Texas Food Bank. (KXAN)

Biz

Tech supplier Schunk Xycarb plans to break ground on a 140,000-sqft facility in Georgetown by the end of 2023 and move in by the end of 2024. Major expansions by the supplier’s partners — namely Samsung — drove the investment. (Austin Business Journal)

Coming Soon

Sixty Vines, a wine taproom and family-style dining chain, will open its first Austin location at The Domain next summer. The restaurant will replace the hub’s current California Pizza Kitchen. (Austin Business Journal)

Announced

⭐️ South by South-best

First round of SXSW 2024 speakers announced

A graphic of the programming track schedule.

This year’s festival schedule has a big focus on artificial intelligence. | Graphic via SXSW

SXSW 2024 is still more than six months away, but the first Featured Speakers drop for the festival’s 38th edition will give you something to look forward to.

The March festival will focus on 24 programming tracks — notably Artificial Intelligence, 2050, Climate Change, the Tech Industry, and the Creator Economy — and how they pertain to the way humans create and communicate.

Let’s take a peek into the programming.

AI and Humanity’s Co-evolution | With Head of ChatGPT Peter Deng
AI and the Independent Artist | With recording artist Grimes
2024 Emerging Tech Trend Report | With Future Today Institute CEO Amy Webb
A Conversation with podcaster Alex Cooper and ACE Entertainment CEO Matt Kaplan
Dichotomies: Visions of Technology’s Role in Divergent Futures | With Deloitte Consulting Chief Futurist Mike Bechtel
Women Who Embody Revolution Through Storytelling | With actor and activist Rosario Dawson
Masterclass: Storytelling for Social Impact | With Boston University Center for Antiracist Research Director Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Read the full announcement

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

Every morning I drink Earl Grey tea to start my day, and I’m very particular that it must be loose leaf. Where in Austin do you get tea? I would love to get some recommendations.

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