Bridging a legacy neighborhood with new development: 100 Labor.

100 Labor is located at the edge of Hemisfair, adjacent to the historic Lavaca neighborhood. Today, the Hemisfair site is anchored by the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and is undergoing successive stages of redevelopment. Notably, Alamo Architects was also on the design team for Civic Park at HemisFair, dedicated in 2023 to very positive reviews. 100 Labor joins this vital urban neighborhood: a hub for business and tourism and focus of new interest in downtown living.

The project site, wedged between busy Cesar Chavez Boulevard and the small-scale historic Lavaca neighborhood, presented design challenges. We helped the client navigate the local review board process, addressing both client directives and historic district concerns. Massing was a key consideration: stepped higher toward downtown to afford prime views, the four-story buildings scale down toward the neighborhood; this graceful transition adds an organically urban interest. Scale change is reinforced with careful material choices: an urbane brick façade toward the boulevard, transitioning to primarily lapped siding to the Lavaca side.

“We applied a placemaking strategy to the layout of outdoor spaces and amenities,” adds Billy. “We anticipated the quality of experience new downtown residents expect – an authentic sense of belonging to a place.” Courtyards, both public and private, echo the color and charm of San Antonio’s own inner courtyards, and heritage trees add to the ambiance of its outdoor venues situated along Labor Street. Appealing outdoor spaces along the street are a key feature of this mixed use development, forecasting success for future street level retail.