Challenge
In September 2018, nationally-acclaimed Stream Realty Partners was ready to unveil plans for its signature downtown Austin project – RiverSouth – a 15-story, high-end office tower at the coveted block of South First and Riverside Drive. With so many community benefits and unrivalled offerings to tout, the Stream team tapped Buie & Co. to help message and announce the building, and later, plan and execute a unique groundbreaking experience.
Solution
The announcement of RiverSouth was received incredibly well, leading to many qualified leads, and shortly after, the signing of a 12-year lease from powerhouse law firm Baker Botts. Heading into the following quarter, excitement was already brewing for the groundbreaking event, which included the demolition of Hooters, the sole resident of the tract since 1995. The groundbreaking took place outside, and despite a massive 6:00 a.m. downpour – in true Austin fashion – the clouds parted, the skies opened and by 11:00 a.m., we were set up and ready for more than 100 guests on a beautiful day. Elected officials, media, partners, brokers and friends gathered to enjoy Peached Tortilla (a soon-to-be neighbor) and watch first-hand the start of literal construction. Our client, David Blackbird, Regional Managing Partner at Stream, gave formal remarks alongside Mayor Steve Adler, who spoke about the City Council’s unanimous vote to rezone the PUD and the project’s alignment with the South Central Waterfront initiative. David then queued the construction team, and we all cheered as the excavator plowed through Hooters. Attendees walked away with their own piece of history – wooden RiverSouth coasters created from the original Hooters tables. We also gave away Stream-branded peanuts – a nod to Charles Schulz, the famous cartoonist behind the “Peanuts” comics and former owner of the “Snoopy PUD,” where RiverSouth sits.
Results
From NPR to KXAN and KVUE, to Statesman and Austin Monitor, our team secured 14 pieces of media coverage, garnering a total of 2.6M impressions. James Rambin even mentioned that TOWERS’ coverage of the demolition became “the most-viewed story in TOWERS history.” Overall, this event was such a hoot to plan. Hoo knows what we’ll come up with next ;)
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