SAN ANTONIO — Walking tours of the historic Tower Life building are being offered ahead of its planned renovation into a multi-use location.
Until May 15, it will cost $40 to book a tour of the high-rise building. The tour includes the Tower Life building's role in some of the historic events that have shaped San Antonio. It includes the original 1920's basement corridors all the way to the the 28th floor as well as the legendary tunnel under South St. Mary's Street.
The tour also discusses the pre-Depression days of San Antonio in the 1920s, triumphs during the post-Depression era, and daily life downtown during WWII and the Cold War. In addition, the tour covers the Tower Life Building’s architecture, original features, and construction methods.
The building had the distinction of being the tallest building in San Antonio from 1929 to 1988. It was acquired in 2022 by Alamo Capital Advisors from a local ownership group that owned the building for nearly 80 years. The investment group plans to revive the building with 234 new residences and a restaurant on the ground level.
After the pandemic and increase in remote workers, office occupancy dropped throughout downtown. In 2022, the occupancy of the Tower Life Building was only 40%, which was part of the decision to convert some of the floors to residences.
The tours cost $40 and run through May 15. Click here for more information and to make a reservation. Centro San Antonio is the beneficiary of the walking tours and will receive a portion of proceeds.