5202 E. Ben White Blvd.

Originally AMD Building 2 housing a late 1970’s Semi-conductor wafer fabrication plant, GSC Architects transformed this building into an modern multi-tenant building with a wide range of tenant possibilities.  This was a challenging transformation project due to the nature of the building’s prior use and configuration.  The building was constructed in the late 1970s, at a time when the US microelectronics industry was formed, but highly individualized based on the manufacturer.  At that time, each of a score of “chip designers” created specific tool and building designs to produce their own semiconductor devices. AMD’s fab design featured a robust and large uninterrupted fabrication floor with closely spaced columns for stiffness.  Below the fabrication floor was infrastructure support for the tools and above was an unoccupied “mezzanine” for the fans and filters.  All of this was wrapped in a stately brick façade generally devoid of windows.

GSC Architects strategically incorporated lobbies, corridors, stairs, elevators and code required separations to allow the large floor plates to perform as office space.  The architects also interjected windows and expanses of entry glass to open the large box from all four of its sides.  This created a very open floorplan accommodating a wide variety of lease conditions as evidenced by the ultimate occupancy mix of the Mexican Consulate of Austin, Lonestar Meats packaging operation and multiple departmental offices for The City of Austin and Austin Energy.