Mark Odom Studio has creatively transformed shipping containers to create a unique and engaging experience at The Pitch, a new leisure complex at Parmer Ponds in Austin. This innovative two-acre (approximately 8,100 square meters) site serves as a vibrant leisure and entertainment destination designed for Austin Football Club fans and the local community. Located centrally, The Pitch features flexible, two-story repurposed shipping containers that accommodate retail, dining, office spaces, and outdoor gathering areas. This distinctive project was designed by Mark Odom Studio, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm based in Austin.
“Karlin Real Estate Company, the developer, was eager to explore the use of shipping containers, a concept they had not previously encountered,” said Mark Odom, founding director of Mark Odom Studio. “While we have researched container designs for commercial, retail, and multi-family use in the past, those ideas remained unrealized. We believe The Pitch is the first project in Austin and the surrounding region to bring this concept to life.”
The complex is composed of 23 repurposed shipping containers, available in two standard sizes: 8 x 20 feet (approximately 2.4 x 6 meters) and 8 x 40 feet (approximately 2.4 x 12 meters). These containers are stacked two stories high, organized into five separate building clusters. Each cluster varies in size and caters to different functional needs, creating a dense and dynamic visual and physical experience across the landscape.
“Although the arrangement and stacking of each building cluster differ, they all share consistent customized details, materials, and color schemes,” Odom explained. “This consistency highlights the authentic form of each container.” The ground floor primarily houses local specialty food and beverage establishments. The upper floor containers serve multiple purposes, including observation decks, climate-controlled gathering spaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and venues for Austin FC game viewing parties. Customized staircases, vertical steel railings, and elevated planter boxes are thoughtfully designed to connect each level visually and physically.
At both ends of the site, three 40-foot (about 12 meters) containers serve as distant visual landmarks. On the ground floor, these containers function as restroom facilities and power distribution rooms. Each container features a 40-foot vertical interior space topped with skylights. Adjacent to these, a large wooden pavilion with customized steel windows defines the boundary between the Austin FC Practice Range and The Pitch.
Extensive landscaping transforms the previously flat site, helping the containers integrate with and adapt to the natural terrain. The distinct design approach for each building cluster creates varied interior experiences and viewpoints, encouraging visitors to explore the site on foot.
To bring this ambitious project to completion, Mark Odom Studio collaborated closely with the developer, Leap Structures, Citadel, and Makehaus. “We approached this as a true team effort,” Odom said. “The project’s complexity demanded that all disciplines work together — from feasibility studies to construction. Time was tight, and the entire team’s dedication was vital to successfully finishing the build.” Mark Odom Studio was also responsible for selecting exterior and interior finishes, as well as choosing and installing furnishings throughout the complex.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architectural Design: Mark Odom Studio
Area: 21,780 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Casey Dunn
Suppliers: Ecosense, Falcon Structures, Makehaus Design and Fabrication Studio, Structural Wood Systems, WE-EF
Lead Architect: Mark Odom
Container Consultant: Falcon Structures
Developer: Karlin Real Estate
Location: Austin, United States
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