OUR HISTORY:

The Design Center of Austin (DCA) is part of a redevelopment project located on the historic17-acre Penn Field in South Austin. Penn Field was originally built in 1918 as an Army Air Corps training base and Radio School. The DCA occupies some of the first barrack and dining hall buildings that were constructed at the North end of the original grass runway. Other original structures that remained standing over the years and have been or are in the process of being refurbished are the armory, additional barracks and airplane hangers.

Numerous other businesses have called Penn Field home over the years. The brick buildings were turned into industrial use, first as home to Woodward Truck Bodies, who provided wood panels for the trucks popularized by Henry Ford. Broyhill Manufacturing Company occupied the site in the thirties to produce furniture and, most recently, until 1996, Majestic Products Company built and shipped fireplaces from Penn Field.

Redevelopment of Penn Field began in the Fall of 2000 and the Design Center opened its doors in May, 2001.

updated by: D.U.G.gn a