Symphony Square, a hidden jewel along Waller Creek, has been revived by the Waterloo Greenway after a four-month restoration project. The historic site is a rare oasis in downtown Austin and a time capsule that represents so many memories and stories associated with it.
“Putting down roots at Symphony Square has been a wonderful milestone for the organization. The site has such a rich history, as does the entire creek, and being located here has expanded our thinking about ways to engage the community. We seek to honor the urban histories of Austin at the same time that we’re creating new stories and experiences for future generations,” said Peter Mullan, Waterloo Greenway CEO.
Having a permanent home with space for special events, including a beautiful 350-person capacity outdoor amphitheater, now enables us to serve our community through exciting programs that educate about Waller Creek and our future parks. This is the first time WG staff is officing on the creek, representing a huge milestone for long-term operations and the added ability to monitor daily creek conditions. In 2017, WG acquired a partial lease of the site north of Waller Creek. The Austin Symphony Orchestra has been a terrific partner with a long legacy at the site and we are excited to build on the synergies between our organizations and the mutual benefit in our involvement.
Restoration was completed in November 2018, led by WG, with builders Formed LLC, designs by architectural and interior design firm Page, and landscape architects DWG. As part of the project, we completed a comprehensive interior restoration of three buildings: New Orleans Club, Pavilion, and Hardeman House. Site-wide accessibility upgrades were added including an entrance lift, 3500 square-foot deck spanning the site, and indoor/outdoor A/V capabilities.
Symphony Square is also open for community events and rentals, proceeds benefit operations and programs. Learn more about our spaces, availability and rates.