Texas is known for its rich history and the Bullock Texas State Museum in Austin tells the story of Texas and puts that history front and center. For over 20 years, the museum has been showcasing Texas history and culture. The four-story building located near the Texas State Capitol opened in 2001 and was named after former Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock. Since its opening, the museum has served over nine million guests and continues to present and celebrate the history of the Lone Star State.
Project Overview
The museum is around 180,000 square feet and features 41,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 400-seat IMAX theater, and a 200-seat traditional theater. The building, meant to resemble the state capitol building with its large central domed roof and stone exterior walls, is supported by a steel framework. Myrex Industries provided 1,850 tons of steel and fabricated the steel for the project.
The Rotunda: Creating Beautiful Open Spaces with Steel
The main entrance of the museum opens to an 8,000-square-foot grand lobby. This four-story rotunda space features a 40-foot terrazzo floor and topped with a copper-domed ceiling. This large space is made possible because of the structural support of steel. Because of steel’s strength-to-weight ratio, it was the perfect material for this build and allowed the designers to create an open space without obstructive center columns to support the roof.
Why Steel was Perfect for this Project
Functional Beauty: Along with the grand entrance and rotunda, there are many artistic elements in the museum that serve functional purposes. For example, the spiral staircase not only acts as a stunning feature in the museum but is also functional by providing a path to the exhibits. Steel provides strength and flexibility for endless design options.
Durability: Steel is a strong material that provides long-term performance. For example, the handrails are resistant to wear and tear, which is great for high-traffic areas like the Bullock Museum. The museum opened over 20 years ago and will continue to withstand the test of time.
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