A First Look at the Line Hotel, Reinventing Austin’s Midcentury Downtown Radisson

A rendering of the hotel’s front, facing Cesar Chavez Street. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

I’ve been waiting patiently for word on the Line Hotel project remodeling the downtown Radisson at Congress Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street for the better part of a year. I’m so patient, in fact, that I mocked up some terrible renderings of what the hotel project might look like post-remodel.

With these new promotional renderings from the Line Hotel’s parent company Sydell Group, I’m pleased to announce that I was right about the one thing that mattered: Fixing that weird little curved roof piece with the Radisson logo on it.

A rendering of the building’s remodel, looking north from the Congress Avenue Bridge. That part of the roof is square now, see? Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

Here’s my mock-up of what I imagined the remodeling might look like. Many people are telling me I did a tremendous job on this prediction. More and more people are asking how I knew the logo would go there, and it’s a huge win for me. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group / Photo illustration by James Rambin.

Predictions aside, it’s great to see what’s in store for the space. The 428-key midcentury Radisson building, originally constructed as the Crest Inn in 1965, always deserved a project like this rather than the wrecking ball. When the building’s remodel removes some of the clutter, the subtle elegance of design cues like the arched windows of each room really shine through.

The interior design, a collaboration between designer Sean Knibb and local architect Michael Hsu, certainly looks like an upgrade as well.

A lounge at the Line Hotel. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

Another view of the Line’s bar area. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

The remodeled pool deck of the Line. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

What appears to be a typical look for a room at the Line. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

A map of two floors of the Line’s lobby and ballroom areas. Photo courtesy of Sydell Group.

According to promotional materials, the Line will include three restaurants and is set for opening in 2018 — hopefully then this prime piece of real estate downtown can live up to its full potential.