24.0-25.0 - 800 and 801 W 34th St — original pdf

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HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION Applications for Demolition and Relocation Permits October 7, 2026 PR-2026-113688, GF-2026-121921 PR-2026-113706, GF-2026-122065 800-801 W. 34th Street 24 – 1 Proposal Demolish a ca. 1965 office building, a ca. 1975 office building, and the connecting skybridge. Architecture 801 W. 34th Street was built in 1965 as a medical clinic by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson. This two-story Mid- century Modern building features New Formalism details such as large-aggregate concrete pilasters, brick, and ceramic tile exterior cladding, fixed metal windows with transoms, and a flat cantilevered roof. “The new building contains 10,700 square feet of space on the ground floor, with additional basement space of 6,000 square feet, and is planned for a future second floor,” exposits the Austin American. The article further describes the building as follows: A unique feature of this clinic is its shape, a Greek cross form with an open landscaped court in the center. The court contains a fountain and an unusual design of plants and trees and is surrounded by glass enclosed corridors, waiting areas and nurses’ stations. The exterior of the building is of pre-cast concrete in panels with vertical ribs; the exposed aggregate texture recalls in color and texture the natural palette of Austin and the Southwest. The forward wing, toward 34th Street, contains the reception lobby, walls of which are almost entirely glass. East of the building is parking area for 75 cars.1 The design combination of vertical pilasters, exposed-aggregate concrete, and monolithic massing is a unique example of a transition piece between the New Formalist movement of the early-to-mid-1960s in Austin and the Brutalist sensibilities of the late 1960s and 1970s. Anderson, a famed Houston modernist, was a pioneer of exposed- aggregate concrete in Modern design; his work on the 1969 Houston Post building, the Austin American-Statesman Building, and the 1977 Frank Erwin Center further expand on themes of monolithic design and planar concrete.2, As a firm, Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson collaborated on the construction of the Houston Astrodome, the world’s largest self-supporting dome at the time of its construction in 1965—the same year this building debuted.3 The stone-and-stucco addition at the northeast elevation of Austin Diagnostic Clinic was constructed by the firm in 1971. “Less than seven years after opening its new facilities at 801 West 34th,” notes the Statesman, “the Austin Diagnostic Clinic has added a second story and a three-story wing…the interior open landscaped court of the original building 1 The Austin American. July 25, 1965, C14. 2 “Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson.” HoustonMod. https://houstonmod.org/architect/wilson-morris-crain-and-anderson/; Kleiner, Diana J. “Anderson, Ralph Alexander, Jr.” Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association; “Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson: Houston Post.” SOS Brutalism. https://www.sosbrutalism.org/cms/15892253; “Wilson Morris Crain & Anderson.” DOCOMOMO US. https://www.docomomo-us.org/institution/wilson-morris-crain- anderson; “Houston’s Architectural Evolution.” Texas Monthly. https://www.texasmonthly.com/style/houston-architectural- evolution/; City of Houston Planning and Development Department. Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Morris House: Protected Landmark Designation Report. Houston Archaeological & Historical Commission, 2015. https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/landmarks/15PL124_SI_Morris_House_2_Waverly_Ct_.pdf; “Historic Hoops: The Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.” National Trust for Historic Preservation. January 11, 2016. https://savingplaces.org/stories/historic-hoops-the-frank-erwin-center-in-austin-texas; “Photographs Capture the Slow Deconstruction of the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin.” The Architect’s Newspaper, March 2024. https://www.archpaper.com/2024/03/photographs-capture-the-slow-deconstruction-of-the-frank-erwin-center-at-the- university-of-texas-at-austin/ 3 “Reliant Astrodome.” DOCOMOMO US. https://www.docomomo-us.org/register/reliant-astrodome. was maintained in the vertical addition, with the second floor reception area surround the glassed atrium.”4 Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson returned to design the addition, with Austinite Jack Crier as construction supervisor. The 1975 building at 800 W. 34th Street echoes the blocky massing with vertical accents present in the 801 building, but replaces the rustic concrete with pale brick and a stone belt course. Though both buildings lack the airiness of high-style New Formalism, this building attempts to capture more light with its glazed hyphen, offset wall planes, and basement-level lightwell. The skybridge connecting it to its sister building across the street was added in 1976. 24 – 2 Research The Austin Diagnostic Clinic began in 1952 as the solo practice of Dr. Henry Renfert. Renfert’s ultimate goal was to create a multi-specialty practice, like the Mayo Clinic, in Austin. By the 1960s, along with co-founders Virgil Lawless, Leonard Sayers, and Homer Goehrs, Renfert had achieved his goal with the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, the first of its kind in the city. The Austin Diagnostic Clinic was the first clinic in Austin to provide in-house radiology and laboratory testing,5 Its Acorn Research Laboratory, under the leadership of Dr. Jack Moncrief, pioneered at-home dialysis, and it was the first group to bring EKGs to an outpatient setting in Austin.6 The institution was not without its controversies, as author Richard Pennington notes in his 1995 history of the clinic: some ADC specialists refused to treat AIDS patients in the early days of the epidemic, and federal funding enriched the exponentially growing nephrology program while other specialties went without.7 Dr. Jack Moncrief’s research on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, a revolutionary treatment for those with kidney failure. By the age of 34, Moncrief was the head of the Artificial Kidney Unit at Brackenridge Hospital and the co -inventor and patentholder of the home dialysis procedure, continuous parenteral ambulatory dialysis (CAPD).8 Along with biomedical engineer Robert Popovich, Moncrief perfected the new system while serving as the Director of Dialysis and Transplantation of ADC.9 The house near the ADC campus at 3410 Owen Avenue10 where Moncrief and Popovich did much of their initial research is no longer extant. Moncrief also pioneered telemedicine as he expanded on the burgeoning need to treat kidney patients at home, enabled by CAPD. Moncrief was also the first doctor in the world to perform dialysis on a newborn. 11 Along with his work at Brackenridge and his position as Director of Nephrology Research at ADC, Moncrief began his own nephrology practice and still consults patients via telemedicine today; the Moncrief Dialysis Center was located at 800 W. 34th Street until its closure. Department Comments This item first appears on the October 7, 2026 agenda of the Historic Landmark Commission. The Commission’s 75- day timeline for action will elapse on December 21, 2026. Property Evaluation The 2021 North Central Austin survey lists the property at 801 W. 34th Street as non-contributing to potential local and National Register districts; however, it notes that the noncontributing status is applied because it was built 4 The Austin Statesman. June 10, 1972, 13. 5 “Renfert, Henry.” Texas Medical Center Archives. https://archives.library.tmc.edu/renfert-henry 6 “Austin Diagnostic Clinic Celebrates 70 Years of Providing Compassionate, Patient-Centric Care to Central Texans.” Community Impact, October 31, 2022. https://communityimpact.com/sponsored/austin-diagnostic-clinic-celebrates-70- years-of-providing-compassionate-patient-centric-care-to-central-texans/ 7 Pennington, Richard. Meet the Need: History of the Austin Diagnostic Clinic. https://richardpennington.com/product/meet- the-need/ 8 The Austin Statesman. January 13, 1971, A24. 9 Moncrief, Jack W., Robert P. Popovich, and Karl D. Nolph. “The History and Current Status of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis.” American Journal of Kidney Diseases 16, no. 6 (December 1990): 579–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6386(12)81044-4. 10 Letter from ACORN Research Lab, Austin, Texas. December 4, 1979. PDF. https://www.rayduarte.com/dna_93105/pdf/036b__04DEC1979_ACORN_RESEARCH_LAB_AUSTIN_TEXAS_JackW.MoncriefM D.pdf 11 Berkson, Lindsey. “Telemedicine’s Inventor & Kidney Doctor – Dr. Jack W. Moncrief (#221).” Berkson Health. 24 – 3 outside of the period of significance of the adjacent and much-older Heritage neighborhood. Designation Criteria—Historic Landmark 1) The buildings are more than 50 years old. 2) The buildings appear to retain integrity. The additions and skybridge were constructed within the period of significance. 3) Properties must meet two criteria for landmark designation (LDC §25-2-352). Staff have evaluated the property and determined that it may meet two criteria for landmark designation: a. Architecture. The buildings are a good example of Mid-century Modern design by Houston firm Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson. Their designs are rare in Austin and rapidly disappearing in Houston. b. Historical association. The property is associated with the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, including Dr. Jack Moncrief’s research on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, a revolutionary treatment for those with kidney failure. The house at 3410 Owen Avenue, where Moncrief and his engineer partner Popovich conducted CAPD research while he worked for ADC, is still extant. c. Archaeology. The property was not evaluated for its potential to yield significant data concerning the human history or prehistory of the region. d. Community value. The property has not been evaluated for its ability to possess a unique location, physical characteristic, or significant feature that contributes to the character, image, or cultural identity of the city, the neighborhood, or a particular demographic group. e. Landscape feature. The property does not appear to be a significant natural or designed landscape with artistic, aesthetic, cultural, or historical value to the city. Staff Recommendation Should the Commission find that either building meets the required integrity and significance thresholds, initiate historic zoning. Otherwise, encourage rehabilitation and adaptive reuse or deconstruction and salvage over demolition, but approve the demolition permit applications upon completion of City of Austin Documentation Packages for both buildings. Location Map 24 – 4 24 – 5 Property Information Photos 24 – 6 HHM, Inc., 2020 24 – 7 24 – 8 Google Street View, 2024 24 – 9 24 – 10 Historical Information Demolition permit application, 2026 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 July 1965: 24. 24 – 11 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 25 July 1965: C14. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Aug 1966: 30 24 – 12 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 Apr 1966: D11. 24 – 13 The Austin American (1914-1973); Austin, Tex.. 12 Nov 1967: A29. 24 – 14 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 21 Aug 1968: 10. 24 – 15 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 10 June 1972: 13. 24 – 16 The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 17 Sep 1972: A9. The Austin Statesman (1921-1973); Austin, Tex.. 06 July 1972: A15. 24 – 17 The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 12 July 1974: 17. The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 03 Dec 1974: 8. 24 – 18 The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 05 June 1976: B6. ABBY KAIGHIN American-Statesman Staff.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 15 Nov 1978: B1 24 – 19 24 – 20 ABBY KAIGHIN American Statesman Staff.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 14 Dec 1978: A1 ABBY KAIGHIN American Statesman Staff.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 16 May 1979: A1 24 – 21 https://www.rayduarte.com/dna_93105/pdf/036b__04DEC1979_ACORN_RESEARCH_LAB_AUSTIN_TEXAS_JackW.MoncriefM D.pdf 24 – 22 The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 06 Dec 1979: K3. 24 – 23 ABBY KAIGHIN. The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 09 May 1980: B1. 24 – 24 24 – 25 JANE ULRICH.  The Austin American - Statesman (1973-1980), Evening ed.; Austin, Tex.. 31 Aug 1980: E1. 24 – 26 https://richardpennington.com/product/meet-the-need/ 24 – 27 https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/z-archived-entertainment/article/natives-made-famous-with-creations-of-dialysis- 745576.php 24 – 28 24 – 29 https://communityimpact.com/sponsored/austin-diagnostic-clinic-celebrates-70-years-of-providing-compassionate- patient-centric-care-to-central-texans/ https://townsendletter.com/kidney-disease-_-berkson-revised-2/#fnref20 https://houstonmod.org/architect/wilson-morris-crain-and-anderson/ 24 – 30 Permits https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/anderson-ralph-alexander-jr 24 – 31