Security Vestibule - Dawson in Austin, TX

Dawson Elementary School at 3001 S 1st St in Austin underwent a completed interior renovation focused on a security vestibule. The project, filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under the name "Security Vestibule - Dawson," involved an estimated cost of $140,000 for 1,100 square feet of work. Austin Independent School District served as the owner of record, while Smith Holt Architecture and Project Management handled the design. Mark S Robinson was the registered accessibility specialist for the filing.

Project Scope and Cost Context

The scope of work was defined as an interior remodel of an existing school. At $127 per square foot, the project cost was above the Travis County median of $103 for similar renovation and alteration filings. However, the total estimated cost of $140,000 fell below the county median of $299,975, placing it in the bottom quarter of costs for this work type in the area. The scheduled build window of 67 days was shorter than the county median of 98 days.

Construction began in May 2025 following plan review completion in April 2025. The filing indicated a completion date of August 2025. The project utilized public funds and public land, consistent with its status as a school district facility. The final inspection passed in December 2025, confirming the work met code requirements.

Final Status and Regional Context

TDLR closed the project file in January 2026, which marks the end of the accessibility review process for this construction. This project is one of several recent renovations by Austin Independent School District, which has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $8,112,002 in the area. Smith Holt Architecture and Project Management also has six other projects in Travis County, including work at Galindo and Guerrero Thompson Elementary Schools.

City of Austin permit records show 12 permits on file at this street address between October 2023 and May 2025. These include mechanical, building, electrical, and plumbing permits. The most recent permit listed an interior remodel of an existing school, aligning with the TDLR filing. The surrounding ZIP code 78745 has a population of about 61,122 and a median household income of $84,529 according to U.S. Census estimates.