As part of Austin’s iconic Seaholm Power Plant Re-Development, Boiler Nine Bar + Grill has been transformed from the shell of the 1940s Power Plant’s largest boiler into a captivating, multi-level restaurant. The once cavernous industrial framework is now one of Austin’s most talked about restaurants. Each floor has a unique drink and food menu offering patrons three distinct experiences – a concept that played into the design from the onset of the project. Upon entrance on the ground floor, the bar and grill serves as the main dining area and pays homage to the facility’s rich history by highlighting the original infrastructure. The conversion of the brownfield site and the adaptive reuse of the historic building allowed the preservation of steel artifacts and equipment to highlight the bones of the LEED Gold space. Through the addition of a mezzanine, the space takes advantage of the additional height views the boiler offers of the new, surrounding public plaza. At the top of the restaurant is the 2,800 sf Deck Nine Observatory Bar, providing a more casual dining experience with views of Austin’s downtown and Hill Country. The basement’s Boiler Room, a swanky bar establishment, is an intimate, subterranean space that encapsulates visitors with a moody speakeasy experience. The aspiration of the design from the beginning of the Power Plant Re-Development was to create a modern experience infused with history and character. Special attention was paid to differentiate the existing and new infrastructure by color coding the new structure and systems a dark gray and the old a light gray to distinguish the historic structure from the new. Boiler Nine Bar + Grill’s design is thoughtful, innovative and nostalgic for Austinites who recognize this building as such an integral part of Austin’s history.
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