Westgate Tower, Austin, Texas
historic place
The Westgate Tower, a historic place in Austin, Travis County, Texas, was designed in 1962. Internationally acclaimed architect Edward Durell Stone and local firm Fehr & Granger collaborated on its design. The 26-story tower opened in 1965, becoming Austin's first residential high-rise. Its name reflects its location near the west gate of the Texas State Capitol grounds. The tower stands 261 feet tall and was the tallest building constructed in Austin during the 1960s. It features a mid-century modern style, built of reinforced concrete and clad in brown brick. The design includes full-length windows, balconettes, and decorative masonry solar screens. Originally, the Westgate Tower offered apartments, parking, a restaurant, and a social club. In 2010, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Two years later, in 2012, it was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The Westgate Tower's construction influenced later development around the Capitol building.