Earlier this year, the Hardeman House at Symphony Square got a brand-new front door, thanks to a grant from Preservation Austin and additional funding through the City of Austin Heritage Grant.
Originally built in the 1850s, the Hardeman House was moved to Symphony Square in 1971 to serve as part of a cultural arts center and home to the Austin Symphony. The building has been the backdrop to countless meaningful memories for almost 50 years, and we are thrilled to have brought it back to life since our move here in November 2018.
Replacing the Hardeman House door was the first project we took on beyond the initial renovation. The existing door was most likely not the original, as evidenced by several hinge replacements and inconsistent decorative woodwork. Our contractor assessed the door and recommended the whole door system and sidelight system be replaced, ensuring it will be plumb, properly weather-stripped, and sealed. The replacement of the door system was an important step in preserving this beloved City of Austin Historic Landmark, while also improving energy efficiency and overall security for the historic building.
A new door was fabricated and installed by John Hindman and his company, Red River Restorations. We were delighted that John and his team took an interest in our project and in both the history of Symphony Square and its future with Waterloo Greenway.
Thank you to Preservation Austin and the City of Austin Heritage Grant Program for support of this important project.
This historic preservation project is supported in part by the Heritage Tourism Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.