SXSW Center: South by Southwest Headquarters

The new headquarters of South by Southwest, the Austin-based company that produces the annual SXSW music, film, and interactive festival, consolidates the company’s various campuses and promotes creative collaboration between SXSW and its partner organizations.

The building’s distinctive serpentine form frames an iconic view of Austin’s Capitol dome while embracing and preserving a grove of heritage live oaks.

In a transformation of the typical office building paradigm, the lobby and spaces throughout the building are reimagined to foster interaction among tenants.

The S-shaped plan of SXSW Center began as a strategy to preserve and embrace a grove of heritage live oaks on the southern edge of the site, while making the most of views toward the nearby Texas State Capitol.

The curvilinear shape became the basis for a dynamic spatial environment—a cutting-edge workplace that serves the creative energy of SXSW by fostering collaboration and lively exchange.

The rooftop deck features a 2,000-square-foot covered patio surrounded by a garden in the sky. Enjoying panoramic views of the Capitol dome and Hill Country beyond, the deck is available to tenants for gatherings and special events.