A 32 storey tower in Austin's Second Street District by Handel Architects, with interiors by Kelly Wearstler built from local material: travertine out of nearby quarries, ceramics by Austin maker Rick Van Dyke, Shou Sugi Ban charred cypress panels and a sculptural white oak stair. Wearstler has named the timber partner on the record, Austin mill Delta Millworks, and the tiles as vintage dead-stock brought from Portugal. Design press also puts low-VOC paints and dual-pane UV-blocking windows in the build specification. A paint class is worth publishing because paint is the largest interior surface a guest breathes next to, and most hotels never say what is on their walls.
Show more
The wellness floor
The Verbena Spa runs massage and facials, and a Recovery Room carries cold plunges, infrared saunas and red light therapy, with steam rooms in both locker rooms and a 24 hour gym on Peloton and Tonal. Complimentary Sunday yoga and Pilates, a run club three mornings a week, sound baths and breathwork round out the programming. None of it moves a pathway score, because none of it is the building. It shows where the operator is spending, and it is spending on recovery.
What is on the record, and what is not
The kitchen language now reaches named practices: no artificial dyes across the menus, low temperature cooking, and seed oil free cooking at La Piscina, all run with Austin operator MML Hospitality. It still names no farm. The LEED Gold claim is published by the property, its architect of record and the city's tourism board, but it has not been verified against the certifier's own directory, so it sits outside the scorecard. Beyond that the record goes quiet. No air measurement, no water claim, nothing on electromagnetic load or sound. For a building this documented on its materials, one published measurement in any of those columns would change its standing here.
Recovery
Forbes' reporting on the group names Austin's recovery kit plainly: hot and cold plunge, red light therapy and a dry sauna, with the pool, spa and fitness floor every Proper carries. Proper Club membership opens the same facilities to locals. As everywhere on this record, equipment is listed as what exists, never as a health outcome.
What this place offers
Charred cypress and white oakShou Sugi Ban panels and a sculptural oak stair, timber finished with Delta Millworks.
Low-VOC paints in the buildPublished with dual pane UV blocking windows in the tower's specification.
No artificial dyesPublished across the menus, with seed oil free cooking at La Piscina.
Recovery Room off the gymCold plunges, infrared saunas and red light therapy beside a 24 hour fitness floor.
Austin Proper Hotel at a glance
Austin Proper Hotel is a hotel in Austin, Texas, USA. We read what it publishes about the eight things a building does to your biology and scored the evidence 4 of 18. Last verified 2026-08-19. Materials and Textiles is its best-documented pathway; nothing is published on Air Quality.
Each pathway scores 0 to 3 on the quality of the evidence published, not on the quality of the property. Open a row for every claim and its source.
Air Quality at Austin Proper Hotel: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Filtration, ventilation and what the air is measured at.
We looked for published information on Air Quality and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- What filter grade is fitted to guest room air handling, for example MERV 13 or HEPA H13?
- What is the fresh air supply rate per person in a guest room?
- Are carbon dioxide, particulate or volatile organic compound levels measured, and are the readings published?
- Is there a mould inspection and remediation protocol, and when was it last run?
- Are there gas cooktops, fireplaces or other combustion sources inside guest rooms?
Water Integrity at Austin Proper Hotel: not assessed
–Not assessed yet, excluded from the total.
Not yet assessedexcluded from the total
Not assessed yet, so this pathway is excluded from the total rather than counted as a zero.
What is not published
- What is the water source, and what treatment is applied before it reaches a guest room?
- Is there a published contaminant test panel, and which laboratory ran it?
- Is shower and bath water filtered, and to what specification?
- How are pools and spas sanitised, and is the chemistry published?
- How is drinking water delivered, and is it treated on site?
Light Rhythm at Austin Proper Hotel: not assessed
–Not assessed yet, excluded from the total.
Not yet assessedexcluded from the total
Not assessed yet, so this pathway is excluded from the total rather than counted as a zero.
What is not published
- Is guest room lighting tunable or circadian, and what specification is published?
- What colour temperatures are used in the evening, and are fixtures flicker free?
- Do sleeping areas have full blackout, and is it specified?
- What daylight access does a typical room have?
- Is exterior lighting shielded or reduced overnight?
EMF Harmony at Austin Proper Hotel: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Wired versus wireless topology, and what is measured where people sleep.
We looked for published information on EMF Harmony and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- Are guest rooms wired for data, or is access wireless only?
- Where are wireless access points and smart meters placed relative to the bed?
- Have field levels been measured in sleeping areas, and by whom?
- Can a guest have wireless disabled in their room on request?
- Is any shielded cabling or shielding material specified in the build?
Materials and Textiles at Austin Proper Hotel: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Named materials, finishes, bedding composition and cleaning chemistry.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
Design press names locally quarried travertine and ceramics by Rick Van Dyke among the interior materials. Named materials and a named maker; nothing further is published on finishes or emissions.
locally quarried travertine
PublishedDesign Milk, Austin Proper Hotel by Kelly Wearstler. Checked 2026-08-18. - Specified
Design press publishes low-VOC paints among the building's specifications, alongside insulated dual-pane UV-blocking windows. A named finish class that limits off-gassing; no emissions measurement is published.
reclaimed irrigation systems, in-building chilled water loops, centralized boilers, low-VOC paints, energy-efficient LEDs, and insulated dual-pane UV-blocking windows
PublishedDesign Milk, Austin Proper Hotel by Kelly Wearstler. Checked 2026-08-18. - Claimed
The hotel publishes its room interiors as Arts and Crafts inspired wall coverings, distressed hardwoods and area rugs. Descriptive rather than specified; no material is named to a species, maker or certification.
Interiors are deeply influenced by local craft and artisans, featuring Arts & Crafts-inspired wall coverings, distressed hardwoods, and barefoot-friendly area rugs.
PublishedProper Hotels, Austin Proper Hotel. Checked 2026-08-18. - Specified
Design press documents the interior wood build: Shou Sugi Ban charred cypress wall panels, a sculptural white oak staircase, and cabinet inlay tiles by Austin ceramicist Rick Van Dyke. Named species, a named technique and a named maker; nothing is published on finishes or emissions.
Shou Sugi Ban cypress
PublishedDezeen, Kelly Wearstler creates sculptural oak staircase for Austin hotel. Checked 2026-08-19. - Specified
In a 2025 interview the interior designer names the timber partner as Austin mill Delta Millworks, with proprietary finishes developed for the hotel, and names the tile provenance as vintage dead-stock tiles from Portugal. A named supplier and a named provenance, stated by the designer on the record.
Vintage dead-stock tiles from Portugal
PublishedForbes, Inside Kelly Wearstler's Design Philosophy At The Proper Hotels. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What are the mattresses made of, and are they treated with flame retardants?
- What is the fibre content of the linen, and is it certified, for example to GOTS or OEKO TEX?
- Which paints, adhesives and sealants were specified, and are they low emission?
- What cleaning and laundry products are used, and is the list published?
- Are there named low emission certifications on the flooring or joinery?
Food and Kitchen at Austin Proper Hotel: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Sourcing, on site growing, cookware, kitchen water and additive discipline.
What the evidence shows
- Claimed
The hotel publishes menus built around local farms and plant-forward dining across its restaurants. No farm is named and no share of sourcing is published.
menus built around local farms, vibrant produce, and nutrient-rich ingredients
PublishedProper Hotels, Austin Proper Hotel. Checked 2026-08-18. - Claimed
The hotel publishes kitchen practices across its five venues, all run with Austin operator MML Hospitality: no artificial dyes, low temperature cooking methods, locally sourced produce, and seed oil free cooking at La Piscina. Practices claimed by the property; no farm or supplier is named.
No artificial dyes
PublishedProper Hotels, Austin Proper Restaurants & Bars. Checked 2026-08-19. - Specified
The group's nourishment page names the whole kitchen system at brand level: exclusively extra virgin olive, avocado, coconut and Zero Acre oil for high heat, organic and farmers-market produce with named partners Harry's Berries and Chino Farms, regenerative grains, grass-fed meats and free-range poultry, across every flagship kitchen.Operator policy
Our culinary teams cook exclusively with clean, stable fats: extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, and Zero Acre oil for high-heat applications.
PublishedProper Hospitality, Nourishment, Proper Hotels. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What share of produce is grown on site or sourced locally, and is it verified?
- Which cooking oils are used, and is the policy published?
- What cookware is used in the kitchen?
- Is kitchen and ice water filtered, and to what specification?
- Is there a published position on additives, preservatives or allergens?
Biophilic and Healing Design at Austin Proper Hotel: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Nature access, views, volume and natural material contact, designed with intent.
We looked for published information on Biophilic and Healing Design and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- Does every guest room have direct outdoor access or an operable opening?
- What is the published design intent behind the natural materials used?
- What are the typical ceiling heights and room volumes?
- Was the landscape designed with native planting, and is the palette published?
Sound and Sensory Ecology at Austin Proper Hotel: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Measured background noise, separation between keys, and scent load.
We looked for published information on Sound and Sensory Ecology and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- What is the measured background noise level in a guest room at night?
- What acoustic separation is specified between adjoining keys?
- How loud is the guest room air conditioning at its lowest setting?
- Is fragrance diffused into guest rooms or public areas, and can it be declined?
38 open questions could be answered with information this property already holds. Answer these for this property
What is not publishedthe gaps we looked for and did not find
Nothing is published on ventilation, filtration or any air measurement in guest rooms. No water quality claim of any kind is on the record. Nothing is published on electromagnetic load or on sound, in a 32 storey downtown tower where both questions are live. The food language now includes named practices but still names no farm and no share of sourcing. The LEED Gold claim is published by the property, by its architect of record Handel Architects, and by the city's own tourism board, and the architect also publishes an Austin Energy Green Building 2 star rating. Neither certification could be verified against the certifier's own public directory for this record, so nothing is carried under standards; the published build specifics are scored on their own merits under materials.
Other standards held
Useful context. A held standard does not move a pathway score on its own. It moves a score only through the evidence that standard publishes.
- Girls Who Eat Conscious rating, Properties meeting 2-3 of our standards with a genuine commitment to healthier travel Awarded by Girls Who Eat, Non-Toxic Travel Made Simple. Source
Verification recordwho checked this, how, and when
Verification record
- Method
- Desk research of published sources, each claim cited
- Reviewed by
- Certified Spaces Standards Inc.
- Last verified
- 2026-08-19
- Changes
- Every correction is logged
Not published is not unsafehow to read these scores, and what this index does not promise
A low score means a property has not published information. It does not mean the property is unsafe, unhealthy or poorly run.
These scores measure disclosure. These scores describe disclosure, not property quality. This index has no commercial relationship with the properties listed unless a badge on the listing says otherwise.
Conditions change, and we will not always know. Every record is a snapshot of what a property had published when we read it, and that date is on the page. Conditions change: a property can refit, change suppliers or replace a system at any time, and nothing requires it to tell us. We re-read records and ask properties directly for updates, but there will always be a gap between what is true today and what was published when we looked. Use this as a frame of reference for what to ask, not as a substitute for asking. Take your own questions to the property before you book, and tell us if you find something we have wrong.
We report what properties publish. We do not inspect, certify or vouch for any property on this index unless a listing says we assessed it on site, and we accept no responsibility for decisions made or outcomes experienced on the basis of what you read here.
Questions travelers askwater, air, EMF, and whether it is worth it
Questions travelers ask about Austin Proper Hotel
Does Austin Proper Hotel publish water quality testing?
We have not assessed this pathway at Austin Proper Hotel yet; it is excluded from the denominator rather than counted as a zero.
What is the air quality like in the rooms?
We can only report what is published about the rooms themselves. No. Nothing is published, and we looked. That is a statement about the public record, not about safety.
Is Austin Proper Hotel low-EMF?
No measurement is published. Only 15 of the 92 properties we have researched publish any bedroom EMF information at all, so this is the industry norm, not an outlier.
Is Austin Proper Hotel worth it?
We score evidence, not experience. On evidence, it ranks 87 of 92 researched records. The strongest documented pathways are Materials and Textiles and Food and Kitchen; nothing is published on Air Quality or EMF Harmony.