In 2019, the Austin City Council adopted the updated 2019 Vision Plan for the Asian American Resource Center, which outlined a Phase 2 expansion to enhance the center’s offerings. While the original plan included a live performance theater and art gallery, funding challenges led to a shift in early 2024 toward a new component of the plan: a pavilion. This pavilion aims to offer a flexible, year-round space for Austin's Asian American communities to share culture and engage in diverse programs. The Performing Arts Center design is on hold pending future funding. City Council District 1

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Updates

  • Ongoing construction of the Ballroom movable wall partitions is anticipated for completion in January 2025.
  • Design Commission Presentation: December 9, 2024, to ensure compliance with city design and sustainability standards, and with the Urban Design Guidelines for Austin.

Phase 2: Pavilion

Background

In 2019, the updated Vision Plan for the Asian American Resource Center was adopted by the Austin City Council. By early 2022, the Phase 2 project team began implementing parts of the plan, including the addition of a live performance theater, support spaces, a multipurpose room, and an art gallery. However, following Schematic Design and cost estimation, it became evident that the available funds were insufficient to cover the full cost of these additions. As a result, in early 2024, the project shifted focus to another component of the Phase 2 Plan: a pavilion. This pavilion aims to provide additional space where Austin's diverse Asian American communities can share their culture and access life-enriching opportunities. The Performing Arts Center design remains on hold pending future funding.

Project Description

The project centers around the development of a multipurpose pavilion that integrates the existing great lawn and will be a space between the existing facility and the near-future development planned by the Watershed Protection Department. The pavilion is envisioned as a flexible, year-round venue designed to host a variety of small to medium-sized programs and events. Key planned features include a performance area, accessible amenities, and supporting infrastructure for diverse community activities.

This project is designed to provide a high-quality, versatile space that meets the diverse needs of its users and emphasizes sustainability. In alignment with Austin's sustainability goals, the pavilion project will pursue SITES v2 certification. 

Rendering of the future pavilion and existing great lawn

This preliminary design provides an overview of the pavilion’s layout developed during the Schematic Design phase. As the project progresses, the proposed design may change to align with budget constraints and compliance requirements.

Anticipated Schedule

  • Fall 2024: Design Phase (in progress)
  • Spring 2025: Bidding and Permitting Phase
  • Fall 2025: Construction Start
  • Summer 2026: Construction Ends

Community Engagement

During the 2019 Planning Process, community feedback identified a need for a pavilion or stage with outdoor uses. Additionally, community members expressed a desire for more programming space. In response to this input, the project team began to design a pavilion that will serve as a multipurpose outdoor space, accommodating a performance area and supporting various activities such as tai chi, yoga, meditation, outdoor exhibits, and more.

View 2019 Community Engagement Report (PDF)

Public Art Integration

The Art in Public Places (AIPP) program will present a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to the Arts Commission and AIPP Panel in January 2025, with the RFQ expected to go live in May 2025.

Contact Information

For questions or comments, please contact project staff:

  • Christina Bies, Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services, by email or phone at (512) 974-7251
  • Leslie Perez, Project Coordinator, Parks and Recreation Department, by email or phone at (512) 974-9473

2019 Planning Process

2019 AARC Plan Update Final Report

The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Master Plan is intended to provide an overall plan that demonstrates the future development potential for the current AARC site. The project is located on a 15-acre City owned property along Cameron Road in Austin, Texas. The design team has created a framework for the spatial arrangement of buildings and programmatic pieces reasonably expected for the future needs of the AARC site. As with any Master Plan, some flexibility has been inserted into the plan to allow for future changes within the program. This Master Plan was tied to a bond passed in the 2018 election, which allotted approximately $7 million dollars to the project. Due to the limitations of the bond funding the Master Plan focuses on the immediate needs of the AARC, while providing a framework for future development. The design team estimated that the work shown in the Master Plan for Phase 2 would cost between $15 – $20 million if construction was completed by 2025. The Master Plan is divided into three areas of focus based on when construction was completed or will be completed. Phase 1 represents the existing facility, completed in 2013. Phase 2 involves slight repairs/modifications to the existing facility as well as the addition of a new Performance Theater with additional classrooms, support spaces and community focused outdoor spaces to be completed in 2025. Future development will contain all other requested programmatic pieces that can be reasonably served by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). No date is set for design or construction of the future development beyond Phase 2 and it may be split into multiple phases. Key Components of the Master Plan Phase 2: PARD focused on adding uses that complement the existing programs at the AARC. These uses were developed from public feedback during the public outreach portion and include the top seven public requests which have been included in Phase 2 and future development. The main program pieces of Phase 2 include the following: repairs to the existing building, adding partitions to the existing ballroom to allow conversion to classroom spaces, the construction of a new Performance Theater that accommodates 500 non-fixed theater seats or 450 guests at tables and a raised stage, green/dressing rooms, classrooms, secured gallery space, un-secured public gallery space, and related support and storage spaces. The new Performance Theater would be situated across from the existing facility and would create an outdoor courtyard between them capable to hosting performances and large communal gatherings. The internal floor plan, including the seating layout will be addressed during the design phase. With the proposed uses, Phase 2 could add up to 220 parking spaces, although by Land Development Code standards only 187 spaces would be required for the build-out of all phases. It should be noted that the lack of parking during large events has been brought up numerous times by stakeholders. Currently, the City property located south of the AARC has allowed AARC visitors the use of their parking lot as overflow parking during large events. PARD staff has agreed to formalize this arrangement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PARD and the Building Services Department. In an effort to facilitate safe passage between both sites, PARD is committed to providing a pedestrian bridge and vehicular bridge between the two sites. A Summary of the Master Plan Process: PARD developed an extensive Community Engagement process in partnership with the City of Austin’s Community Engagement Office. A total of ten small focus groups were held with 154 participants. Additionally, surveys were conducted at the site, during events, and on SpeakUp Austin. (See Addendum A: Community Engagement Report for details.) The vast majority of the participants requested a Performing Arts Theater which reflected the top choice of an earlier independent survey conducted by the non-profit The Network of Asian American Organizations. A series of public meetings were planned to process the public’s expressed desires for the AARC, reflect them in schematic drawings and solicit community feedback. At the first public meeting the results of the Community Engagement process were presented and responded to through three conceptual Feasibility Studies that reflected the public’s desires. The three Studies focused on the best potential development footprints for the project based on site analysis. This included a consideration for the imminent change in flood plain zones, changing the AARC’s 100 year flood plain areas into 25 year flood plains. Additional consideration was paid for the number of large trees that are distributed throughout the site. The second public meeting presented themes we heard from the first meeting, including the program uses that the community gave the highest priority. By the third meeting, we distilled that feedback down to two concepts. Both concepts showed the same size of building and same program uses but differed in their approach to site circulation and orientation. The main feedback from the third meeting was to think larger than the budget the recently approved bond would allow and provide more of the requested program space. Several members of the community noted that fundraising can be utilized to make up the difference as it was done when the original building was constructed. The fourth and final community meeting presented a single site plan that combined the best of the two previous options per community input. The draft Master Plan shown at the last meeting included about 50% more program space than previously shown for each phase. Opportunities for Future Development: Future development will contain a variety of other requested programmatic pieces such as main entry/drop off court, nature play area, sculpture garden, community garden, covered pavilion, pedestrian and vehicular bridge, creek overlooks, boardwalk, nature trail, and future buildings that can accommodate a variety of support uses that can be reasonably served by PARD. During this process some ideas were discussed including the possibility of incorporating housing, private retail and private office uses. Supporting this idea, an increased building height is desired to allow for a mixed-use development arrangement of uses. Although these ideas were not identified as a high priority during the public input and engagement process they should be included in future design discussions regarding the development and buildout of the AARC site, but the discussion should not ignore or undermine the public input process that was completed by PARD. These ideas were not included or excluded in this Master Plan because they are outside the purview of this process due to zoning, land ownership and PARD’s operational standards and mission. Opportunities for funding this wider range of future private development mixed-uses will depend on several factors. Private partnerships and funding could be explored, but that could require selling portions of the 15-acre city owned property or work within PARD’s existing concessions and contracts division to provide any number of PARD related uses. Additionally, there was some discussion about the potential for parking garage on the City’s Rutherford campus to serve both the AARC and City departments located at Rutherford. This was also beyond the scope of this Master Plan. PARD’s objective in this Master Plan process was to understand the extent to which the site can be further developed to the benefit of the Asian American Pacific Islander community as well as the community of Austin as a whole. Based on public input and engagement with the community the Master Plan identifies the expansion of specific community programming that will utilize flexible indoor and outdoor facilities. The Master Plan addresses these specific programming needs and identifies the ability to expand the center to accommodate the future needs of the community.

 

2006 AARC Master Plan Final Report

The 2006 Master Plan was conducted by private entities before the City of Austin began managing the process.

Presentations to Boards, Commissions and Council (2019)

Community members were invited to the following presentations before boards, commissions, and City Council:

July 16, 2019: Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission

July 31, 2019: Network of Asian American Organization (6 p.m. at AARC)

 

View the presentation and draft site plan that will be shared at each meeting.

 

Community Engagement Process (2018-2019)

The 2019 Plan update provided several opportunities for the community to provide input and comment on the process. The process included stakeholder meetings, open houses, small group conversations, surveys, and online updates. In addition, there were multiple opportunities to share on SpeakUp Austin!

Review the Final Community Engagement Summary here (PDF).

Community Meeting #1
Tuesday, December 11, 2018, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd

Community Meeting #1 Presentation

Master Plan* Values Concept Questionnaire results

Community Meeting #4 (Final Meeting)
Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 6 p.m.
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd

Community Survey Results

Community Meeting #3
Thursday March 28, 2019, 6 p.m.
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd

Community Meeting #2
Thursday, January 31, 2019, 6 p.m.
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd

Community Engagement Summary

AARC Master Plan* Values

Performance Theater

The building program and design for the anticipated performance theater was completed in 2022. While the City of Austin explores options for funding the implementation of the design, this project has been put on hold. Learn more about the process below.

Performance Theater Overview

Phase 2 Video Walk-Through

Proposed site plan presented to Asian American Quality of life Advisory Commission, November 15, 2022

Proposed site plan presented to Asian American Quality of life Advisory Commission, November 15, 2022. View the Schematic Design Presentation (PDF, 11 MB)

Background and Project Description for Performance Theater

Background

The Asian American Resource Center’s mission is to create a space of belonging and healing for Asian American communities in Austin and beyond. This is accomplished through community collaborations and partnerships; providing rental space; organizing cultural, educational and health wellness programs; and curating art and historical exhibitions. We lead with our values and our vision, so that our diverse communities are supported and connected. The AARC opened in 2013 on a 15-acre site that serves a large, actively engaged Asian American community in Austin. This center represents a long-awaited dream for many in the community and was made possible through an Austin voter-approved 2006 Bond Package for $5 million with a $750,000 investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. Members of the local Asian American Pacific Islander community contributed pro-bono services for the design.

In 2003, the Network of Asian American Organization, a consortium of 15 Asian cultural organizations, was the driving force behind the establishment of the AARC through a City Ordinance and followed through with the creation of a community-led 2006 Master Plan*. Today, the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission is a driving force behind expanding the ability of the AARC to better serve its growing community. The 2006 Plan and the 2019 Plan Update with associated Community Engagement Report (below) outline the varied needs and desires of the community. The AARC vision and planning stretches back more than 20 years.

Project Description

This project focuses on the addition of a 200-to-400-seat live performance theater, associated programmatic spaces, parking stalls, and associated site improvements. Due to many outside factors, the funding available will not cover the expense of the entire phase two project and meet the needs of the rapidly growing community. The project will be split into two phases, 2A and 2B. Design of both phases will continue through design development, at which point the project will be divided into one portion to be constructed first (Phase 2A) and the other (Phase 2B) at a later date.

Performance Theater Schedule and Community Engagement

Schedule

Due to insufficient funds, the performance center process is now on hold.

  • Winter 2021: Community Engagement Goals and Design Process began
  • Spring 2022: Community Engagement Completed
  • Fall 2022: Schematic Design for Performance Art Completed
  • Winter 2023: Design Development (Ongoing)

Community Engagement

The community engagement plan (PDF) outlines the process that will be followed through the Phase 2 Implementation process and will be updated as needed. The engagement process will mirror the different stages of the project as identified below.

1. Develop Community Engagement Goals and Project Kickoff

  • Community Engagement Goals Workshops
  • Kickoff Announcements

2. Building Program

Building Programming is the research and decision-making process that helps to identify the scope of work to be designed and performed, which will be presented in a program book and defines the project parameters.

  • Small Group Discussions: Presentation (PDF)
    • NAAO Meeting: January 26, 6 p.m. | recording
    • AARC Staff
    • Asian American Quality of Life Commission AARC Working Group: February 8, noon | recording
    • Artists and Creatives: February 8, 6 p.m. | recording
    • Burmese Language Group: April 6, 6 p.m. | recording
  • Community Kick-off Meeting at the AARC
    Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
    Meeting Presentation (PDF) | Meeting Stations (PDF, 27 MB)
     
  • Building Program Survey on Future Performing Arts Center (closed April 11) (view results)
  • Asian American Quality of Life Commission Programming Presentation (PDF, 11 MB), September 15, 2022

3. Building Design

Building Design includes two separate stages: Schematic Design and Design Development.

Schematic Design is a rough construction drawing that offers a general overview of a project’s basic features and construction cost estimates, allowing a determination to be made if the concept fits within the project budget. With schematic designs, the team turns ideas into physical drawings that you can look at and edit to help craft the construction project and prepare for the next phase of the architectural plan.

Design Development is when the design advances significantly, defining and developing the important aspects of the project. The deliverable in this phase is a much more detailed set of drawings than the schematic phase (it looks like they’re done, but they’re not).

4. Permitting and Construction

During this stage, community engagement will primarily focus on providing information to the community as well as the possibility of having an AARC Communications Group that will connect regularly with the project team.

Funding and Resources for Performance Theater

Funding and Resources

Phase 2A building program and design was funded by Proposition B of the 2018 GO Bond Election. Additional funds are needed to continue this project.

* Please note: In 2020, PARD shifted from using the term "master plan" to describe all planning projects to other phrases that were more descriptive and could be used to identify the level of the planning process. For more information, please visit the Project Terms and Definitions webpage.

Related Links
Asian American Resource Center
Asian American Resource Center - Water Quality Project

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