Completed 2003

This Mediterranean revival villa, constructed in 1916 by Clara Driscoll and her husband on the shores of what was to become Lake Austin, is situated on a 12-acre property known as Laguna Gloria. The villa and the site are owned by the Austin Museum of Art. The building and site are important historic and cultural treasures. They are designated as an official project of Save America’s Treasures and are also listed on the city, state, and national historic registers. The rehabilitation of this unique and significant building has been made possible through a grant from the National Park Service and gifts from private donors, and the project followed the guidelines outlined in the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.” The goals of the rehabilitation project were to repair damage to the building, to restore it to the period of significance (Driscoll’s occupation), and to upgrade the building so that it can function as a museum, office space, and hospitality center.

Two aspects of this project that presented challenges were the installation of an air conditioning system in the existing concrete slab construction with low floor to ceiling heights, and the provision of handicapped access by elevator to the five levels within the house. The interior and exterior surfaces of the building were returned to their original colors and finishes using information from historical photographs and paint sampling. Missing architectural features, such as light fixtures and iron gates, were replicated from photographic documentation. Existing wooden elements, including doors, windows and architectural millwork, were repaired and refinished.