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Here’s What Austin’s New Central Library Could Look Like

An artist's rendering of the central library design that council will vote on Thursday.
Photo by Lake|Flato Architects
An artist's rendering of the central library design that council will vote on Thursday.

The area around the Seaholm Power Plant is slated for redevelopment. The art deco building in downtown Austin stopped generating electricity in 1989. Now, it hosts musical performances like the Psych Fest and a concert during SXSW that included Kanye West and Jay Z.

The redevelopment plan calls for the Seaholm Power Plant to be the centerpiece of a high density eight-acre “SeaholmDistrict,” that includes a mix of retail space, offices, condominiums, a hotel, and a new central library. On Thursday, Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on the schematic design for the library.

The city is holding an open house where you can view the design tonight at city hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Or you can check it out online here.

Council is also scheduled to vote soon on a wall that will surround Seaholm’s electrical substation. The vote on that plan is scheduled for November 3. Check out the design proposal for the wall here

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @KUTnathan.