The four-story Austin Energy Headquarters accommodates up to 1,000 employees and takes a holistic approach to user comfort and wellness by maximizing connections to the outdoor environment, daylight, circulation, and social interaction.

From the beginning of design, energy models helped the design team evaluate energy conservation options and maximize systems performance. This process included a building-wide life-cycle analysis, leading to reductions in structural-member depth and optimized concrete mixes. A 400-kilowatt solar array, overlapping the edge of the roof line, collects solar energy for use in building operations and demonstrates the City’s commitment to its own robust green building initiatives. Such tactics helped to mitigate the building’s embodied energy and helped offset projected carbon emissions for up to 15 years. Taking advantage of Mueller’s district-wide chilled water loop, the building’s mechanical system is highly efficient while maximizing thermal comfort. Connecting this large project to the municipal reclaimed water system has cut the building’s potable water consumption to about a tenth of its overall water usage. Reclaimed water has been 85% less expensive than potable.

The mass of the block-long, 275,000-sf building is articulated into three distinct zones to help offset its size. On the west-facing elevation, colored glass fins provide shading elements and add interest. A monumental canopy, composed of a photovoltaic array, shades the building while reducing heat gain. The canopy is also a unifying element that ties all three building zones together while adding detail above the parapet line.

A massive, shaded breezeway terrace cuts into the second level, opening the courtyard to the street and capturing prevailing winds during hot summer months.

Inside the building, a dramatic, centrally located social stair connects all floors along the courtyard window wall, becoming an office-wide focal point and showcasing cross-departmental activity throughout the day. The landings at each floor culminate in a social “moment” highlighted on the exterior of the building by orange portals. Inside these portals are lounges, meeting rooms, and gathering spaces that uphold the company’s commitment to collaboration.

Providing the ultimate in flexibility, the design employs future-proofing strategies such as open floor departmental layouts that use flexible partitioning and large touchdown areas enabling the company to change with the demands of flexible work arrangements and the fluctuating needs of in-office staff.

ELS is the project Design Architect, with Page Architects serving as Architect of Record and interior designer. Catellus Development Corporation is the master developer of Mueller and the development manager for the Austin Energy project.