Sinclair Black, innovative Austin architect, planner, educator, wins a top honor

Good afternoon, and thank you for subscribing to Building Austin, our weekly newsletter��focused on real estate, growth and development in the Austin region. I'm Shonda Novak, the American-Statesman's real estate reporter.

Sinclair Black's career spans more than five decades as an Austin architect, designer, planner and University of Texas educator. He is regarded as a visionary for his innovative and wide-ranging work in architecture and urban design.

Now, Black is being honored with a prestigious award for his lifetime achievements.

The Urban Land Institute, which bills itself as the oldest and largest network of real estate and land use experts in the world, has tapped Black for its 2024 Austin Vision Award.

The award recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution to the Austin region. It's ULI Austin's highest honor, recognizing someone who has influenced both the real estate industry and the community as a whole.

“Sinclair has been involved with so many transformative initiatives that have helped shape Austin," said Paulette Gibbins, executive director of ULI Austin. “One significant example is his vital role in Reconnect Austin, a grassroots campaign to bury Interstate 35 to connect downtown and east Austin. Reconnect Austin won our Next Big Idea Award in 2018, and the cap being planned today is a direct result of his hard work.”

Black has left his mark on a multitude of projects: the Second Street retail, dining and entertainment district, a now-thriving hub in downtown Austin that didn't exist when I came to the Statesman in late 2000; the Cedar Street Courtyard, also downtown; Reconnect Austin; Central Market at Central Park off 38th Street; and Austin's Great Streets Master Plan, a vision for 306 blocks of downtown Austin.

A native of San Antonio, Black is a pioneer of the mixed-use development trend that continues to transform downtown Austin. He has worked with nonprofit boards, neighborhood groups, developers, parks advocates, the downtown business community and others, all toward the betterment of Austin and Central Texas.

Through the years, Black, principal at Black + Motal (formerly Black + Vernooy), has served in advisory roles for numerous projects and non-profit boards. He has a bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Texas and a master of architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

A professor emeritus at the University of Texas School of Architecture, he joined UT's architecture faculty in 1967, and from 1972–73 was the school's acting dean. His commitment to teaching the potential of urban design to effect change in cities’ economic health, quality of life and sustainability has influenced generations of students who are continuing this mission across the globe, ULI officials said.

ULI will present Black with the award Aug. 27 at the Topfer at ZACH Theatre.

My

ork isn’t possible without Statesman subscribers. If you subscribe, thank you! And if you don’t, please consider supporting us today.

Have tips or story ideas? Contact me at 512.913.4503, snovak@statesman.com or @snovak999.