Jay Hughey

Jay Bonner Hughey (1961-2025), a man whose spirit was as grand as the visions he brought to life, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. Larger than life in every way, Jay was a force of nature - exuberant, generous, and endlessly creative. A true genius and lover of life, his intelligence was matched only by his kindness.

Jay grew up in College Station, Texas and graduated in 1983 from the University of Texas- Austin with a degree in architecture. An accomplished architect, Jay didn't just design buildings, he created experiences-- spaces that breathed, welcomed and inspired. After graduation, Jay joined the Taniguchi and Associates firm in Austin. before moving to Los Angeles in 1987 to work with renowned Canadian architect, Arthur Erikson. While there, he was an integral part of the design team for the Science Facility One building at Western Washington University.

He returned to Austin in 1993 to design and build the Electric Lounge, a live music venue, with his business partner, Mark Schumann. The Lounge made an indelible mark on Austin's cultural landscape. It was not only an award-winning beloved institution that pulsed with life and community, it was also a gathering place for artists, thinkers, rebels, and dreamers, much like Jay himself.

Returning to Los Angeles in 1997, Jay went to work as an Associate Principal for CO Architects, where his team's design of Bren Hall on the UC Santa Barbara campus was the first laboratory building in the United States to be awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum LEED accreditation. He later became a senior associate at Anshen+Allen. During his time in Los Angeles, his design projects included the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, an addition to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, and the Norman Hackerman Building on the University of Texas campus. Each stood as a testament to his unique vision and his deep belief in beauty, functionality, and bold imagination.

Eventually making his way back to Austin in 2015, Jay worked with Realm Design Build in Austin on many projects and continued to freelance as an architect. He also returned to his love of live music, partnering with old friends to open ND Austin music venue.

In 2017, Jay moved to Exotic Isle, a small, tight-knit community on the Colorado River where he served on the HOA Board of Directors and spent most of his days enjoying the freedom and beauty of the outdoors with his dogs Peep and Shorty and helping his friends and neighbors on the island.

A gifted wordsmith, Jay was known for his ability to weave language as deftly as he shaped structures - crafting stories and conversations that could move hearts and spark minds. He had an uncanny knack for bringing stories to life while mimicking the voices of the characters involved. To his friends and family, Jay was a beacon of love and loyalty. He was always available to help friends when needed. He gave himself fully, fiercely, without hesitation. His laugh was infectious, his presence magnetic, and his absence now leaves a space that can never be filled.

Jay donated his body to the UT McGovern Medical School in Houston. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gene T. "Dusty" Bonner and Jane & John Hughey and is survived by his brother, Travis Hughey, his sister Missy Dennis, brother-in-law, Peter Dennis, his nephew and nieces, Drew, Abby and Kate Dennis and an extraordinary tribe of devoted friends.

A celebration of Jay's life and a live music extravaganza will be held at the Sagebrush Bar in Austin, August 9th at 1:00pm. I

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the SIMS Foundation (https://simsfoundation.org/about-us/), mental health support for musicians or HAAM (https://www.myhaam.org/), an organization providing affordable healthcare for working musicians.