Nash Hernandez Building Project
City Council District 3
Project Summary
In late summer 2025, the Nash Hernandez Building project started the design development phase. The program will incorporate both Austin Parks and Recreation administrative spaces and community-serving spaces as outlined in the Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach Vision Plan. The design development phase has identified opportunities for large community shared spaces that have access to a kitchen and restrooms in addition to park and recreation administrative offices. We will keep the community informed as the project progresses.
Background
The Nash Hernandez building located at 1621 Nash Hernandez Senior Road is an approximately 9,000-square-foot building built in 1966 for Austin Fire as the Arson Division and Museum. The building has been vacant since 2009 when Austin Fire moved locations. In 2012 the Nash Hernandez building was transferred from Austin Fire to Austin Parks and Recreation for the purpose of establishing administrative offices. In 2012, a building assessment was conducted, followed by extensive asbestos and lead abatement in 2013 that left the building unoccupiable and in a state of disrepair. Between 2012 and 2019, several assessments, building remediations, and design scopes were initiated and partially developed, but ultimately never completed due to various factors. A previous design version of the Nash Hernandez building included use as an Austin Parks and Recreation administrative office with no community spaces. Later, Austin Police and Parks and Recreation collaborated to utilize the building as a joint-use facility until Austin Police pulled out of the project. On May 19, 2022, City Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a professional services agreement for design services to renovate the Nash Hernandez building to house Austin Parks and Recreation administrative spaces with community-serving spaces. (Agenda Item 14). However, on June 16, 2022, Council also approved Resolution 20220616-089, directing the Department to complete a feasibility study and fiscal impact of housing an Intergenerational Resource Activity Center (IRAC) pilot program in the Nash Hernandez Building.
In April 2024, in response to the feasibility studies, Austin Public Health did not recommend an IRAC at the Nash Hernandez Building and the IRAC group withdrew the request to use the building. In June 2025, Austin Parks and Recreation continued with the May 2022 council-approved plan for administrative space with limited community use.
Project Description
The renovation of the Nash Hernandez building will incorporate both Parks and Recreation administrative spaces and community-serving spaces as outlined in the Council-approved Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach Vision Plan. The project is seeking historic landmark designation for its significance to community planning. The building was the first municipal structure built on Town Lake following its creation in 1960, prior to the implementation of the first vision plan in 1968. All work on the facility will aim to adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The project will also seek LEED Silver certification or better, in alignment with Parks and Recreation sustainability goals and required by the City of Austin’s 2021 Green Building Ordinance.
Objectives
- Fulfill the Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach Vision Plan for reusing existing building for community-based programs.
- Provide community-serving spaces that include a multi-purpose room with kitchen, public restrooms, and public access to technology.
- Determine Department priorities for administrative office space for the parks department staff
- Restore, interpret, and promote the irreplaceable historic and cultural resources of Austin’s park system allowing visitors and residents to discover and experience an authentic connection to the city’s diverse history.
The current funding may not be sufficient to build the entire program, so the project is planned be completed in two phases when full funding is available.
View the current draft site and floor plan designs (PDF, 9 MB)
Project Phases
- Phase 1 will apply funds towards the most critical needs and bring the building up to life safety, accessibility, and energy compliance.
- Site improvements include upgrades to the parking lot for fire truck access, accessible parking, and electronic vehicle charging stations. The sanitary sewer system will need to be replaced.
- Landscape work will include a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) route to the lower level with interpretive signage along the route, tree protection, stormwater management, and erosion control.
- The structural system will be rehabilitated but all other building systems will be removed and replaced. A new drainage system will be installed at the lower-level walls to mitigate groundwater intrusion. The exterior brick walls at the upper level will also need to be removed and reassembled due to the subsurface masonry support being removed during the asbestos abatement in 2013.
- The exterior envelope will be rehabilitated, including replacement windows, doors, and roofing.
- Preservation efforts to protect existing features that include the entry railing and lighting.
- Phase 1 will prioritize mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) & heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvement so that it is minimally occupiable and prepared for Phase 2.
- Phase 2 will complete the building’s interior finish out. If only partial funds are available, the upper level will be prioritized due to its publicly accessible areas and initial administrative offices.
- The upper level is planned to include a multi-use shared community meeting room that can open up into the lobby to create a larger space, a kitchenette for the community room, storage, publicly accessible toilets, and a lobby that can provide computer access opportunities to the community.
- The remaining lower-level administration office areas, including additional staff offices, restrooms and breakroom, will be finished out.
Anticipated Schedule
- Summer 2025: Design, Permit and Bid Phase (In Progress)
- Spring 2027: Construction Phase Start
Communication and Engagement
As the project continues, we will continue to inform the community of progress and listen to feedback.
Community Meetings and Outreach
| Date | Event | Location | Materials |
| March 25, 2026 | Presentation to East Town Lake Citizens Neighborhood Association | Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center | |
| March 11, 2026 | Presentation to East Town Lake Citizens Neighborhood Association | Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center |
Boards and Commissions
Date | Organization | Action | Materials |
| March 23, 2026 | Design Commission | Request for Recommendation, Approved | Meeting Minutes (PDF) Presentation (PDF) |
| March 11, 2026 | Historic Landmark Commission, Architectural Review Committee Meeting | Presentation and Discussion | Meeting Minutes (PDF) |
Funding and Resources
Funding is provided by Certificates of Obligation.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact Ingrid Kong, APR Project Manager, by email or by phone at (512) 974-9468.
Previous Plans and Studies
Date | Resolution | Direction | Response |
| April 8, 2024 | Council Resolution 20221208-059 | Work towards implementation of an Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center | Memo and 2024 Resolution Response Report (PDF, 270 KB) |
| October 17, 2022 | Council Resolution 20220616-089 | Perform a Feasibility Study | Memo and 2022 Feasibility Study (PDF) |
Date | Organization | Action | Materials |
| April 24, 2023 | Parks and Recreation Board | Presentation and Discussion | Presentation (PDF, 2.4 MB) |
Date | Event | Materials |
| September 18, 2018 | East Town Lake Neighborhood Association (ETLNA) Community Meeting | Presentation (PDF) |
| November 21, 2019 | Community Feedback Meeting | Public Comments (PDF) |