While writing my post yesterday about Mueller, I was reminded of when back in 2012, I photographed the former National Guard Armory buildings. They had mostly been sitting empty I assume since the old airport closed, and that year the bond money was approved to renovate. It was not easy to get permission, but after some persistence, I was able to spend a few hours walking freely around the complex. My idea was to capture images of it exactly as it looked at that time, knowing that once it was completely renovated, a lot of the original and well-worn charm and details would be lost. Maybe someone would then like to hang some of those photos in the new space for nostalgic or artistic purposes? The intention was to be more proactive and create opportunities.

Come to find out after some searching, it is now called the Creative Media Center at Austin Studios plus Stage 7. The ribbon-cutting for the completion was almost one year ago. I honestly had forgotten all about it until now. So I dug up the photos and thought I would share my favorites with you. My photographic eye is reliably most drawn to color, texture, and line, and I search for framing that creates something more abstract than representative. Human use, time, non-use, and the elements all conspire to wear down anything man-made. Observing and capturing these kinds of artifacts, visual stories, and abandoned places is something I find enjoyable.

“The Austin Studios Expansion project is a collaboration between City of Austin and the Austin Film Society. As a part of the 2012 Bond, the City of Austin allocated $5.4 million for adaptive reuse of a 75,000 sf former armory building into a new Creative Media Center at Austin Studios. The Creative Media Center provides a collaborative environment for film and creative media makers, producers, and vendors. The project includes major renovation, construction of a new paseo and landscaped courtyards, site access and parking lot reconfiguration, security improvements, and major campus utilities work. Interior spaces include collaborative workspaces, flexible meeting rooms, tenant office spaces, and production facilities.”

— austinfilm.org

The Armory building complex as it looked in 2012.

The old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport air traffic control tower, built in 1961.

One of the places that I visit many times a week here in Austin, to walk and be in more of a natural setting is Mueller Lake Park. The park is a small part of the whole Mueller development which started after the old airport closed and moved out to the former location of Bergstrom Air Force Base, which closed in 1993. It seems like so long ago now, but I definitely remember taking flights out Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, and also visiting the airbase while in High School Air Force Jr ROTC. So much has changed in Austin since I first moved here in 1983 with my parents. It’s mostly unrecognizable compared to what it was back then.

Now at Mueller, where there used to be huge runways, a terminal, and parking lots, is a massive housing development, stores, parks, a children’s hospital, and various other venues. The plan for it has slowly been carried out and built over the last 20 years and seems to be getting near completion.

There are only a few artifacts left from the old airport opened in 1930, and rebuilt in 1961, which before that was farmland. There is a large bow-trussed hangar where they have the farmer’s market and a food court. And then there is the original air traffic control tower, which I think is an aesthetically interesting Jet Age structure. Back in 2012, the Austin Film Society hired me to photograph the tower to create an image for their Christmas card that year. I do hope the city does something cool with the tower eventually. So far it’s just been sitting alone in an empty field. We will see!

“The 700-acre Mueller site, vacated when Austin’s airport relocated in 1999, is well on its way to becoming home to approximately 14,300 people, 14,500 employees, 10,500 construction jobs, 4 million square feet of office and retail, more than 6,200 homes and 140 acres of public open space. Mueller is an award-winning master planned and designed community, and in accordance with new urbanist principles.”

— muelleraustin.com/about/