SPICEWOOD CENTER | BUILDINGS 2 AND 3
New buildings that extend an established development.
LOCATION
Austin, Texas
PROJECT TYPE
Medical Office Shell Buildings
STATUS
Completed
Building 2 — 2020
Building 3 — 2026
PROJECT AREA
3,428 SF (BUILDING 2)
6,000 SF (BUILDING 3)
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST
$1.5 million
DRS Services
Architecture
Site Planning
Test Fits
Permit Documents
Construction Administration
Designing within an established site
The new buildings had to work with the site’s geometry, existing parking layout, and access.
These conditions shaped how the buildings could be positioned and approached. DRS coordinated the architectural response with the established site arrangement, considering how the additions would function as part of the larger center.
The goal was to create new space that belonged to the development, both visually and practically.
Preparing for future tenant build-out
The shell approach allowed interior spaces to be developed around future tenant requirements. Preliminary test fits helped assess how potential tenant programs could work within the proposed buildings.
For Building 3, the shell plan anticipated three tenant areas, with multiple exterior entrances and provisions for future utilities and signage. Slab leave-outs accommodated later plumbing and utility work, while interior wall finishes were deferred to allow tenant-specific installations.
These provisions considered future build-out as part of the shell design, leaving the detailed interior planning to subsequent tenant projects.
PROJECT GALLERY
Expanding the center in two phases
Austintatious Enterprises engaged DRS to design two new shell buildings at Spicewood Center, supporting medical office use while extending the architectural character of the existing development.
Buildings 2 and 3 were designed and constructed in separate phases. Each needed to relate to Building 1 while responding to its location within the site and the requirements of future tenants.
DRS’ work focused on building shells and their relationship to the development. Selected test fits helped evaluate potential tenant layouts; tenant interior buildouts were outside the project scope.
Giving a prefabricated shell a cohesive identity (Building 3)
The project used a prefabricated building system as the underlying shell, selected to help manage construction cost and design time.
DRS developed the exterior treatment around the materials, finishes, and architectural language of Building 1. Cladding and detailing gave the new buildings a more customized appearance while maintaining continuity across the property.
The result is an architectural relationship between the separate phases, with the new buildings carrying forward the established character.
A development completed over time
Building 2 was completed in 2020, followed by Building 3 in 2026. Together, the two phases extended Spicewood Center with shell buildings planned for medical office occupancy and designed to complement the existing property.
The project demonstrates how DRS approaches phased commercial development: coordinate with existing conditions, maintain architectural continuity, and consider future tenant needs during shell design.
Planning a commercial shell building or an addition to an existing center?
DRS can help coordinate site considerations, building design, and future tenant requirements.
A welcoming storefront defined by contemporary materials, clean lines, and a strong visual identity.
Glazing and solid wall sections create a balanced composition of transparency, enclosure, and natural light.
Expansive glazing connects the interior with its surroundings while bringing natural light into the space.
Construction progress highlights the building's architectural composition, storefront glazing, and exterior material palette.
