Colorado Developer To Begin Downtown Austin Hotel Construction

AUSTIN, TX — Colorado-based real estate investor and developer McWHINNEY is expected to begin construction next month on Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, a new full-service lifestyle hotel in a prime downtown Austin location, officials announced on Monday.

Expected to open in Fall 2021, Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin will offer 246 modern guestrooms, including a nearly 1,400 square foot Presidential Suite that will also be available as private event space, officials said in a press advisory. The hotel will be managed by Hyatt, officials added.

The hotel’s interior spaces will be inspired by Austin’s boho-chic lifestyle and modern ingenuity, developers said, with nods to the rich local Texas history and energetic music scene. Designed by Texas-based hospitality design firm Duncan Miller Ullmann, Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin will feature an extensive art collection created by local Austin-area artists, according to a press advisory.

Located on the corner of Congress Avenue and 8th Street, the upscale hotel will sit adjacent to Austin’s historic Paramount and State Theaters, and just a short walk from the 6th Street entertainment district, the Texas State Capitol, the Austin Convention Center and the University of Texas at Austin campus.

Guests will enjoy multiple dining experiences, including a locally operated restaurant on the ground floor, 2nd floor bar and private event space and an 8th floor bar & outdoor lounge with stunning views of downtown Austin and the Texas State Capitol.

Rendering of Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin. Courtesy image.

Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin accommodations and amenities will include:

• 246 modern guestrooms.
• Ground floor restaurant and bar.
• 2nd floor bar and private event space.
• 8th floor outdoor lounge and bar.
• A state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center, featuring cardio and weightlifting equipment.
• Nearly 2,000 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space.
• A 1,400 square-foot Presidential Suite.

The Hyatt Centric brand features full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations, officials noted. "Created to connect guests to the heart of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery so guests never miss a moment of adventure," officials added.

Currently, there are 32 Hyatt Centric hotels across 14 countries, including Chile, France, India, Japan, Spain and more. Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin will mark Hyatt’s 12th hotel in the Austin area and the second Hyatt Centric hotel in Texas, joining Hyatt Centric The Woodlands.

“We are excited to introduce our ‘in-the-now’ Hyatt Centric brand to the charming, dynamic city of Austin, Texas,” Pat McCudden, Hyatt’s senior vice president, capital strategy, said in a prepared statement. “Through our development strategy, Hyatt looks for locations that allow us to grow with intent, across a strategic selection of diverse destinations where our guests want us to be – like Austin. We look forward to offering Austin’s locals and visitors, World of Hyatt members, and Hyatt’s loyal group of meeting and event planners a new and distinct lifestyle hotel experience in the heart of this great city.”

Colorado-based McWHINNEY is involved in a wide variety of hospitality developments, from large extended-stay properties to luxurious independent boutique hotels. Recent hotel projects include The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block in Denver and the AC Hotel Portland in Portland. McWHINNEY is currently developing Hyatt Place Peña Station/Denver Airport, which is scheduled to open next month, and Hyatt Place Boston Seaport District, which is slated to open Spring 2020.

“McWHINNEY is thrilled to be entering the Texas market with this exciting new lifestyle hotel,” company co-founder and CEO Chad McWhinney said in a prepared statement. “The Hyatt Centric brand is all about creating boutique lifestyle hotel experiences in the heart of iconic cities, which is why we strongly believe this is the perfect concept to bring to downtown Austin.”

Austin-based Nelsen Partners is serving as architect for the 31-story hotel and Katerra will be the General Contractor. The project will meet the Austin Energy Green Building Standards, which were created to help developers meet sustainability goals to make Austin an environmentally-friendly place to live, work and visit.

“The Paramount and State Theatres enthusiastically look forward to partnering with McWHINNEY and Hyatt to create unique entertainment experience evenings for the residents and visitors to Downtown Austin,” Jim Ritts, the CEO and Executive Director of the Austin Theater Alliance, said in a prepared statement. “Annually, the Paramount and State Theatres present over 270 live performances, exhibit more than 350 movies and both theatres are home to the Austin Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Moontower Comedy Festival and the ATX Television Festival.”

About McWHINNEY

Colorado-based real estate investment firm McWHINNEY is passionate about creating great places and providing awe-inspiring experiences. Since 1991, McWHINNEY has developed more than 6,000 acres of vibrant master-planned communities and more than 10 million square feet of vertical commercial and mixed-use properties in the Rocky Mountain region and on the West Coast. With offices in Loveland and Denver, McWHINNEY has been named Colorado's "Developer of the Year" by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and won the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Global Award for Excellence and the Denver Business Journal Real Estate Champions – Catalyst Award for Denver Union Station. For additional information, visit www.mcwhinney.com.

About Hyatt Centric

Hyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. Created to connect guests to the heart of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery so they never miss a moment of adventure. Each hotel offers social spaces to connect with others in the lobby, meanwhile the bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally inspired food and signature cocktails can be enjoyed. Streamlined modern rooms focus on delivering everything guests want and nothing they don’t. A passionately engaged team is there to provide local expertise on the best food, nightlife and activities the destination has to offer. For more information please visit hyattcentric.com. Follow @HyattCentric on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattCentric.