William P. Hobby State Office Building, Government office complex in Downtown Austin, United States.
The William P. Hobby State Office Building is a government complex in Downtown Austin containing three distinct towers with different facade materials including bronze-tinted glass, pueblo revival stucco, and concrete panels. The facility houses multiple state agencies within its offices located at 333 Guadalupe Street.
The complex was completed in 1986 as Republic Plaza before transitioning to state ownership in 1990. It was renamed to honor Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby Jr., marking its role as a government office facility.
The complex is named for former Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby Jr. Its three towers were designed by separate firms: Rossetti Associates, Holt-Fatter-Scott and WZMH Architects. Architecture critic Michael McCullar wrote that using three firms may have diluted the complex's architectural impact, and compared its former water feature to a punctured radiator.
The complex occupies a full block in the Warehouse District of Downtown Austin, with the three towers grouped around a plaza on Guadalupe Street. The 2018 renovation replaced the failed water feature with benches and planters, so the plaza now works as a seating area between buildings. Visitors heading to a specific agency should check which tower houses it before arriving, since each has its own entrance.
The complex uses three completely different materials across its towers: bronze-tinted glass in one, pueblo revival stucco in another, and concrete panels in the third. This material contrast creates an unexpected architectural mix that reveals how distinct designs were combined into one government complex.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,883 contributors worldwide.