Linbeck Group Constructs Project for The University of Texas at Austin

HOUSTON/Austin, Texas – Linbeck Group, LLC, has begun building Austin by Ellsworth Kelly, the artist’s gift to the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin. Deemed by some his most monumental work, Linbeck is constructing the project that includes the installation of 18 pieces of art each designed by the internationally acclaimed artist.

Austin, titled for the city in which it is located, is the first and only freestanding building the artist designed. It will be the keystone of the Blanton’s permanent collection and is positioned at the fulcrum point between the University of Texas proper and the Texas State Capitol.

Inspired by his observations of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, Austin is in the shape of a barrel-vaulted Latin Cross. The exterior will be clad entirely of cut stone quarried and fabricated in Spain. The interior nave, transepts and apse will follow the form of the exterior and serve as the backdrop for the art installation consisting of 14 separate wall-mounted marble panels. A totemic art piece fabricated from a single piece of reclaimed redwood selected by the artist is positioned on axis at the edge of the apse. Custom-hand blown art glass installations adhering to the artist’s specifications and design are located at the end of the nave and each transept. Fabricated by Franz Mayer of Munich, a 170-year-old, fifth generation family operated studio, the art glass installations continue Ellsworth Kelly’s infamous study of light spectrums.

The project is being completed under a Design-Build contract with Linbeck as the prime and Overland Partners as the architect. Both firms worked with the artist, the director of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation and University of Texas representatives during a prolonged preconstruction phase. The team utilized 3-D modeling and virtual reality to accurately depict final outcomes during preliminary design efforts. Linbeck has used BIM extensively in collaboration with the design team for system coordination. Stone fabrication will rely heavily on this modeling as tolerances are minimal.

Ellsworth Kelly passed away shortly before construction started in 2015 at the age of 92. Austin will be his last and most singular work when completed in the summer of 2017.