Building 3000, after renovation

The Austin Community College District is preserving a piece of Austin history on the grounds of the Rio Grande Campus. The college repurposed a building that originally served as the gymnasium of Austin High School, opening in 1929; the Rio Grande Campus occupies what was the main portion of the high school.

The former gym, now known as Building 3000, encompasses 38,000 square feet and includes new classrooms and faculty offices.

ACC will host press tours of the renovated building from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6. Refreshments will be served.

ACC maintained the exterior appearance of the gym as faithfully as possible. The renovation included construction of an additional floor in an open area that used to be a basketball court. The college also removed an adjacent band hall because of technical and code demands on the property. That area was replaced by a landscaped courtyard.

Old Austin High gym before renovation

“It is wonderful to bring this project to a close,” says Robert Ryland, the construction manager. “We now have an efficient and modern academic building that will alleviate crowding at the main portion of the campus.”

The reconstruction effort began in February 2009. Eventually Building 3000 will also house a central plant for heating and cooling the entire campus.