Studio Gallery

Studio Gallery Inc is renovating a 2,436-square-foot building at 801 Lake Air Dr. in Waco to create a new retail space and shop. The project, registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), is scheduled to finish in March 2027, with construction work beginning in September 2026. The estimated cost for this alteration is $150,000, which calculates to $62 per square foot.

Sterling & Kap Architects serves as the design firm of record for this project. The firm has six other TDLR-registered projects in the region, including the Bosque Square Shopping Center and First National Bank, with a combined value of $6,520,000. Austin Wayne Wright is the registered accessibility specialist listed in the filing. The scope of work is strictly defined as the remodel of the existing structure for the new retail and shop functions.

Project Context and Cost Comparison

The $150,000 estimated cost is below the county median for renovation and alteration filings in McLennan County, which stands at $277,446. This places the Studio Gallery project in the bottom quarter of costs for similar work in the area. The median size for these projects is 4,000 square feet, whereas the Studio Gallery renovation is 2,436 square feet. The median cost per square foot for comparable filings is $96, while this project is estimated at $62 per square foot.

The scheduled build window for this project is 181 days, which is longer than the county median of 122 days for similar renovation filings. The project is privately funded and takes place on private land for private use. TDLR completed the plan review in August 2026, confirming the status as Review Complete.

Local Area Details

The project is situated in ZIP code 76710, where the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population at about 23,270 residents. The median household income for this area is $53,304, and the median owner-occupied home value is $229,000. There are approximately 12,391 housing units in the ZIP code, with an even mix of owner- and renter-occupied homes. The McLennan County unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July 2026, a figure higher than the rate recorded a year earlier.

Studio Gallery Inc is the owner of record for this development. The project represents a specific retail renovation rather than a new construction build. The filing details confirm the private nature of the investment and the specific architectural team involved. The completion timeline remains fixed with the March 2027 target date following the September 2026 start.