June 26, 2018
Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors announced today the start of construction on The Ruby Hotel in downtown Round Rock. The $5.5 million upscale, boutique hotel will be located on three acres at 304 Fannin Avenue along Brushy Creek. The project is just one of several that are planned to expand downtown Round Rock and bring more people to the area.
“Our preconstruction team has worked closely with the architect and developer over the last year. We are thrilled to see the product of that effort take shape and create a unique addition to the downtown Round Rock community,” said Kristy Attaway, Vice President-Regional Manager of Hill & Wilkinson’s Central Texas office.
At 24,000 square feet, The Ruby Hotel will have 39 guest rooms and a fitness center in two new buildings on the property. The project also includes renovating an existing home into a meeting space and bar, as well as refurbishing the existing pool. The design of the hotel will stay true to the character and history of the surrounding downtown neighborhood.
“The Ruby’s biggest features are the natural elements surrounding it,” said Spencer Cook, project manager for Hill & Wilkinson. “There are a lot of very large 100-year-old Live Oaks on the site, and both buildings are built on a bluff that overlooks Brushy Creek.”
While touring the property, the developer and operator, Alexa Management, found love letters on the ground addressed to “My dearest Ruby.” The developer embraced the name and has built the brand of the hotel, including the aesthetics and logo, around the idea of who Ruby might have been.
“The Ruby will be an exciting addition to our already vibrant downtown,” Mayor Craig Morgan said. “A boutique hotel perfectly complements our efforts to position downtown as a destination for visitors and locals alike.”
The architect on the project is Page. The Ruby is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2019.