Commercial case study · Austin, TX
Academia is a real, named Bailey & Bear commercial project: a full renovation of a historic Austin building into the Academia Bar and Restaurant, completed in December 2017. The priority was keeping the original charm of the building intact while delivering a working commercial hospitality space.
★ 5.0 · 56 Google reviews · 11 years in Austin (since 2015) · Insured · licensed trade subcontractors · One accountable contractor, first call to final walkthrough
The challenge
Most of Bailey & Bear’s portfolio is residential, but commercial renovation is a core specialty — and Academia shows why. The building was historic, and the brief was clear: maintain its original charm while turning it into a functioning commercial hospitality space. That means every trade decision has to respect the existing structure instead of fighting it.
A historic commercial building sets the rules. The renovation was run within the constraints of the existing structure rather than gutting away its character — the discipline that defines how Bailey & Bear approaches every project.
Electrical, plumbing, bathrooms, and ventilation ran alongside finish trades — tile, staining, countertops, and cabinetry — under one accountable contractor instead of a pile of separate vendors.
A bar and restaurant has to work as hard as it looks: a bar rail system, custom cabinetry, custom lighting, and a ventilation system were part of the delivered scope.
What we did
The scope below is the project’s documented work list — the same list published on the Academia project page.
The finished space
The finished space is a testament to delivering exceptional results while working within the constraints of the project — a historic building renovated into a working Austin bar and restaurant. More photos are in the full Academia gallery.
Planning a similar project?
Updating an existing business space — finishes, layout, restrooms, systems. Start at commercial renovation in Austin for 2026 cost ranges and process.
Turning a space into a working restaurant or bar — kitchen and bar systems, ventilation, and finish-out. See restaurant buildout in Austin.
Shell spaces, turnovers, and bigger programs run through commercial buildout, tenant improvement, or the full commercial contractor page.
The Academia Bar and Restaurant renovation covered electrical, plumbing, bathrooms, tile, staining and floor staining, countertops, a bar rail system, custom cabinetry, custom artwork, custom lighting, and a ventilation system — a full commercial hospitality scope completed in December 2017.
Yes. Academia is a completed example: the main priority was maintaining the original charm of the historic building while delivering a working bar and restaurant space, and the project was run within the constraints of the existing structure.
Yes. Bailey & Bear handles commercial renovations and restaurant buildouts in Austin, coordinating the trades — electrical, plumbing, finishes, cabinetry, and ventilation — as one accountable contractor.
Start with a walkthrough. Send the address, current use, photos, and your timeline, and Bailey & Bear will scope the project and provide a written line-item estimate. Call 512-689-8346 or use the contact page.
Academia started the way every Bailey & Bear project starts: a walkthrough, a real scope, and a written line-item estimate. Send your space and timeline and we’ll map the path. 5.0 from 56 Google reviews.