The Holdsworth Center

Project highlights: The Holdsworth Center 

• Architect: Lake|Flato Architects
• Owner: The Holdsworth Center
• Location:  Austin, Texas

On the shores of Texas’ Lake Austin, The Holdsworth Center is a 44-acre campus of world-class amenities aimed at building the skills of the professionals who educate the state’s 5.5 million students. Operating under the motto “Education Holds Worth” and driven by the belief that great leaders can push achievement levels to new heights, the center promotes reflection, thought, and dialogue across its 15 buildings and 173,000 square feet. 

The center was founded in 2017 by Charles Butt, chairman of the H-E-B supermarket chain, as a way to partner with Texas public school districts and help educators become stronger leaders. The design team closely studied 15 potential sites, ultimately landing on the Lake Austin site. It worked closely with the city to shift zoning from single-family residence to planned-unit development, advocating for sustainable development of only 12 acres of the campus and for the remaining 38 to become a conservation easement. The shift in zoning was the fastest in Austin in more than 20 decades. 

Guided by a master plan that anticipates future sustainable campus expansion and an interdisciplinary team, the project includes state-of-the-art classrooms, a 300-seat lecture space, an open-air amphitheater, walking trails and recreation areas, a two-story dock classroom, and 186 rooms that accommodate overnight stays. The center’s living-learning programming promotes deep connections with the landscape among educators. When not in use by educators, it welcomes private events into its all-in-one meeting space, generating rental income to support the center’s mission. 

Upon arrival, the center’s parking area encourages visitors to meander along the campus’ trails, which weave between buildings and central commons. Its buildings offer sweeping views of the lake, and its outdoor spaces allow visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape, from rocky hillside to rolling meadow. Throughout the campus, deep overhangs and shaded porches evoke traditional Texas lake houses, while the use of wood and limestone achieves a timeless design and roots the campus in its context. 

Since opening, the center has welcomed hundreds of Texas educators each year. As of 2023, it has supported 1,371 of them through its unique multiyear leadership training. It currently partners with 50 school districts across the state, which serve approximately 730,000 at 956 campuses. By 2028, the center expects to serve more than 4,500 leaders through its programs.