Austin-based Mark Odom Studio has completed a complete renovation on an iconic Austin office building located at 2001 North Lamar Blvd. The single-story 3,000-square-foot building was built back in 1960 by architects Pendley & Day. With the renovation, Mark Odom Studio set out to restore the structure to its 1960s aesthetic. The archetypal structure was purchased by Meredith and Tyler Spears, owners of the insurance company BKCW. The pair felt the building reflected their company culture and attitude and identified strongly with the iconic mid-century appeal of the architecture.

In addition to the primary restoration, the architects saw the project as an adaptive-reuse endeavor, removing the internal subdivisions that were added to the space throughout the years while opening up the interiors to reflect and build upon the building’s stylish heritage. The building’s expansive glazed walls, for example, are able to take advantage of the newly opened plan, filling the space with natural daylight.

“For our office, the most exciting part of this design process was treating this more like an adaptive reuse project rather than just a renovation. Preserving this iconic 70-year-old building was, of course, a must—but tricky to pull off. Raising the roof and ceiling, opening the interior, and finding vintage brick were just a few of the big design choices that helped it really come to life,” said Mark Odom, of Mark Odom Studio.