Dobie Center, named after J. Frank Dobie

J. Frank Dobie

James Frank Dobie was an American folklorist, writer, and newspaper columnist best known for many books depicting the richness and traditions of life in rural Texas during the days of the open range...

, is a privately owned twenty-seven story residence hall located adjacent to the University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

 campus. In addition to being a private residence for students, Dobie also contains a two-story mall

Shopping mall

A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...

, a movie theatre, restaurants, and specialty stores.

History

On its completion in 1972, Dobie Center became the tallest building in Austin, surpassing the Texas State Capitol

Texas State Capitol

The Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas, and is the fourth building to be the house of Texas government in Austin. It houses the chambers of the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor of Texas. It was designed originally during 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, and was...

, which had held the title for nearly 90 years. The building underwent a US$10 million facelift in 1990 to replace its then brick façade

Curtain wall

A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...

 (which had been leaking around select windows) with a glass one . During the replacement, bricks fell from the roof causing limited damage . When classes began in the Fall 1989 semester would-be residents of Dobie Center were temporarily relocated to the Radisson Plaza Hotel . Later that semester there was some suspicion that residents who had moved back in had subsequently been exposed to hexachlorobenzene

Hexachlorobenzene

Hexachlorobenzene, or perchlorobenzene, is a chlorocarbon with the molecular formula C6Cl6. It is a fungicide formerly used as a seed treatment, especially on wheat to control the fungal disease bunt...

 - a toxic substance used in additives to strengthen mortar .

On February 6, 1991, the company that owned Dobie Center filed for bankruptcy

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....

 .

On November 11, 2006 a fire, started by an improperly extinguished cigarette, broke out on the pool deck of Dobie Center causing an estimated $600,000 worth of damage. The pool deck reopened in late April, 2008. The fire was contained to an area outside of the residential tower. This structure was an old wooden deck that has since been replaced by a concrete structure.

The Austin American-Statesman reported on September 1, 2010 that many residents were complaining that their rooms were too hot. Dobie management responded that this was a chronic problem and that the only remedy was for the outside air temperature to lower. http://www.statesman.com/news/local/dobie-dorm-residents-complain-of-heat-890696.html

Dobie Mall used to contain a Burger King

Burger King

Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...

, Taco Bell

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is an American chain of fast-food restaurants based in Irvine, California. A subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., which serves American-adapted Mexican food. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, other specialty items, and a variety of "Value Menu" items...

, and McDonald's

McDonald's

McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...

, but all have long since left. The food court today features a Subway

Subway (restaurant)

Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...

 and various assorted independently run food outlets.

Trivia

Michael Dell

Michael Dell

Michael Saul Dell is an American business magnate and the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Inc. He is the 44th richest person in the world, with a net worth of US$14.6 billion in 2011, based primarily on the 243.35 million shares of Dell stock worth $3.5 billion that he owns,...

 founded the company that would eventually become Dell

Dell

Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...

 lived in room 2713 of Dobie Center.

Ryan Cabrera

 filmed the music video for the song "On the Way Down" on top of the Dobie parking garage

Dobie Center was jokingly referred to as "Tel Aviv

 Tower" in the 1980s due to the large number of Jewish residents.

Filmmaker Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson

Wesley Wales Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features, short films and commercials....

 worked at the Dobie Theatre

Musician Daniel Johnston

 worked at the McDonalds in Dobie Mall

Stores and restaurants

A list of some of the stores and restaurants inside Dobie Center:

• Beat the Bookstore
• Emiliano's Burrito Factory
• Campus Convenience Store
• Chippery
• Landmark's Dobie Theater
  Landmark Theatres
  Landmark Theatres is the largest art house movie theater chain in the United States. It is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner through their 2929 Entertainment. The chain shows mostly first run independent, foreign film, and restored classics though some Landmark theaters also show more mainstream...
  
   - closed
• Funny Papers
• Gyro King
• Hoa Hoa
• Mane Express
• Niki's Pizza
• Oma's Kitchen
• Randi Bazaar
• Speedway Copy
• Student Biryani Indian Cuisine
• Subway
  Subway (restaurant)
  Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
  
  
• Tan It All
• Texas Burgers
• TNK Movies
• We Fuse

External links

• Dobie Center
• Landmark's Dobie Theater