One Congress Plaza

One Congress Plaza is a 30-story office building in downtown Austin with a distinctive red granite facade and bronze-tinted glass windows. The structure includes office spaces, a food hall called Fareground in the lobby, and connects to a parking garage across Brazos Street.

The building was completed in 1987 during a major expansion phase of Austin's downtown area. It represented part of a broader wave of development that transformed the city center during the late 1980s.

The sunken plaza serves as a gathering space where locals and visitors encounter art installations and community events throughout the year. People often linger here to enjoy the trees and water features that break up the urban landscape.

The food hall in the lobby provides easy access to dining options while visiting the plaza area. The connected parking garage makes it convenient if you arrive by car and want to spend time in the surrounding downtown district.

The building's air conditioning system collects condensation water that feeds 12 stainless steel poles to create a mist feature in the outside plaza. Most visitors never realize this clever water recycling system quietly operates beneath the surface to maintain the plaza's ambiance.

Location: Texas

Inception: 1987

Official opening: 1987

Floors above the ground: 30

GPS coordinates: 30.26420,-97.74480

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:04