Hilton Overhead Walkway

In 2014, the Hilton Hotel at Neches and East 4th streets in downtown Austin was facing increased competition from newer properties. As part of a two-year modernization project, the design team of created a functional work of art that serves as the “gateway to Austin” for those arriving in downtown via rail.

A challenge our team encountered was integrating the bridge into the existing Hilton Austin Hotel structure. As an integral member of the hotel’s original construction team in 2004, we were familiar with and had access to accurate drawings of the hotel. Therefore, we were confident that we could use the hotel structure to support the gravity loads on a single existing corner column. We then used the adequate capacity of the sixth floors’ framework to transfer the lateral loads of the walkway.

Another challenge faced by the team was the CapMatro Light Rail could only be shut down over a single weekend for construction. The entire bridge was pre-assembled on a leased parking lot a block from the site prior to the weekend closure. The assembled bridge was then lifted onto a truck early on a Saturday morning and driven down 4th street. A crane hoisted the bridge into place by late afternoon. Connections to the Hilton and the Convention Center were complete by late in the day Sunday.

The overhead walkway provides a seamless and safe alternative for guests to move from the convention center to the Hilton while in the shaded lattice walkway that seemingly floats above the earth below.