Just Opened: 1 Hotel Austin Debuts with Sustainable Luxury in Texas’ Tallest Tower

1 Hotel Austin anchors the first 16 floors of the 74-story Waterline, the tallest tower in Texas, bringing the sustainability-minded luxury brand to the Capital City. Situated downtown where Waller Creek meets Lady Bird Lake, the 252-room hotel promises guests far more than just sweeping skyline views.

Developed by Lincoln Property Company and Kairoi Residential, Waterline is among Austin’s most ambitious mixed-use projects, integrating residences, office space, restaurants and this highly anticipated high-end hotel in the rapidly growing Rainey Street district.

1 Hotel Austin General Manager David Duran emphasizes that the goal for this property extends beyond simply opening a luxury hotel. “There was definitely a lot of forethought about what the next phase of Austin would be. It was really about being part of an amazing project with great partners and bringing a beautiful hotel to life that would really energize this part of the city,” he says.

Every architectural detail of the hotel is crafted to harmonize with its surroundings. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) and HKS Architects, the tower’s curved form follows Waller Creek, while plant-filled balconies and outdoor terraces add a layered, organic façade.

TBG Partners, the landscape architecture firm, enhances this connection to nature by incorporating native plants and green spaces that tie the property to Central Texas’s ecology.

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Rooms offer sweeping views of The Confluence and Lady Bird Lake (photo by Mikkal Vang, courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin)

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Now open: 1 Hotel Austin (photo by Mikkal Vang, courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin)

Inside, Studio MAI and the Starwood Hotels interior design team found inspiration from Texas Hill Country ranches and river houses, resulting in the use of natural materials and abundant greenery.

Guests arrive in a light-filled lobby with expansive wood ceilings, stone surfaces and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Waterloo Greenway’s outdoor trail system, The Confluence. “I love the arrival experience,” says Duran. “It feels like you’re part of nature. There’s so much texture that surrounds this building, and it’s not just texture you look at — it’s texture you can actually feel.”

Duran believes 1 Hotel Austin offers a unique niche by prioritizing sustainability with hospitality. “Our mantra is to make the Earth better, one hotel at a time,” he says. “That’s reflected in everything we do, from how we source things, to how we operate, to the products we use and how we reduce waste.”

The property is pursuing LEED Gold certification and integrates environmental features throughout the guest experience, such as filtered in-room water taps, reusable glassware and the brand’s “1 Less Thing” donation program, which encourages guests to leave gently used clothing for local nonprofits.

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Nature-focused design creates a calm retreat in this suite at 1 Hotel Austin (photo by Mikkal Vang, courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin)

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Plant-filled One Bedroom Suite (photo by Mikkal Vang, courtesy of 1 Hotel Austin)

Duran notes that sustainability is only one aspect of the overall experience, explaining that the 1 Hotel Austin team aims to also provide ample wellness programming and nightlife opportunities.

“We’re also very much a cultural and experiential hotel,” he says. “If you want to come here, relax at the spa, enjoy a morning yoga session, surround yourself with natural elements and have a healthy meal, that option is here. Conversely, if you want all of that but also want a great nighttime experience with a DJ by the pool, that’s here as well. It’s not one or the other.”

That diversity also extends to the property’s dining experiences. This including Alteño, led by James Beard Award nominee Chef Johnny Curiel. Also, Neighbors Café transitions from a neighborhood coffee shop by day to a wine bar and gathering space by night. The 16th-floor restaurant, watr, pairs Japanese-inspired cuisine with sweeping views of Lady Bird Lake and the downtown skyline.

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Dining room of Alteño at 1 Hotel Austin (Photo by Mikkel Vang)

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Alteño spotlights the cuisine of Los Altos de Jalisco. (photo by Ben Lindbloom)

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Chef Johnny Curiel from Alteño (photo by Ben Lindbloom)

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Neighbors is a mix of daytime coffee shop and evening cocktail bar (photo by Ben Lindbloom)

Duran hopes Austinites view the property as more than a destination for travelers and as a place that also serves local residents.

“I want it to feel like it’s part of the community,” he says. “My hope, beyond welcoming the community, is that it inspires what the next iteration of Austin can be.” Duran continues, “It doesn’t have to be just the tallest building and something architecturally interesting. It can be something that builds upon the way we’re living here.”

1 Hotel Austin aims to serve as a gathering place where mindful design, sustainability and Austin’s evolving identity come together.

RELATED: Waterloo Greenway Celebrates Opening The Confluence: New 13-Acre Project Along Waller Creek