AUSTIN | Fairmont Hotel | 595 FEET SPIRE/456 FT ROOF | 37 FLRS | Complete - Page 67

The ATX · #**1321** Posted **Feb 22, 2016, 1:37 AM**

This project's construction seems different than other tower on a podium designs in that the tower is going up independently of the podium which is barely above ground.

drummer · #**1322** Posted **Feb 22, 2016, 2:59 AM**

That's true. I was thinking about that when folks were asking where the pedestrian bridge was going to connect and you or someone else mentioned that the podium hadn't really begun yet. Seems strange, but I guess it's okay. Structurally, it shouldn't be an issue, right? It seems like they're essentially building two buildings (tower + a wrapping "podium"). Any of you engineers/architects have any insight to bring to the table?

corvairkeith · #**1323** Posted **Feb 22, 2016, 3:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

This project's construction seems different than other tower on a podium designs in that the tower is going up independently of the podium which is barely above ground.

The JW Marriott went up pretty much the same way.

The ATX · #**1324** Posted **Feb 22, 2016, 5:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvairkeith

The JW Marriott went up pretty much the same way.

It doesn't seem to be quite the same. Here's a link to the JW construction time lapse. But I guess it's close enough.

http://oxblue.com/open/tournee/jwmarriottaustin

drummer · #**1325** Posted **Feb 23, 2016, 12:52 AM**

Huh. That is fairly similar, though, in principle. I guess I didn't realize that.

corvairkeith · #**1326** Posted **Feb 26, 2016, 10:05 PM**

From today.

JoninATX · #**1327** Posted **Feb 26, 2016, 11:34 PM**

The glass on it looks nice...

GoldenBoot · #**1328** Posted **Feb 26, 2016, 11:58 PM**

This will definitely be a "nice" building. Just wish they didn't cut-down the height and increase the number of rooms.

Bottom line...Manchester Texas Financial Group (truly based out of San Diego, CA) could not "finance" the vision they sold to our community.

SkyPie · #**1329** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 12:42 AM**

Great photos...thanks!

brando · #**1330** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 1:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

This will definitely be a "nice" building. Just wish they didn't cut-down the height and increase the number of rooms.

Bottom line...Manchester Texas Financial Group (truly based out of San Diego, CA) could not "finance" the vision they sold to our community.

I don't care that it's not as tall. I just don't like that it's a lot wider and it'll block more of downtown from the outside. I know those go hand and hand but the idea that a building isn't as taller doesn't really get to me.

The ATX · #**1331** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 1:12 AM**

Excellent. I especially like this one. I really hope the ugly SE & SW corners of that intersection get developed soon. Sutton are you listening?

the Genral · #**1332** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 5:15 AM**

I like the glass but I don't quite get why they're putting it up so soon while the construction and structure is so raw.

H2O · #**1333** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 1:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

I like the glass but I don't quite get why they're putting it up so soon while the construction and structure is so raw.

It's called 'drying in'. The sooner you can get walls around any given level (or group of levels), the sooner you can start doing interior work that you do not want exposed to the elements.

Jdawgboy · #**1334** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 5:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brando

I don't care that it's not as tall. I just don't like that it's a lot wider and it'll block more of downtown from the outside. I know those go hand and hand but the idea that a building isn't as taller doesn't really get to me.

The reason why it is so much wider is because it's not as tall as originally planned. They would have had to cut the room count to keep the tower portion from being as wide. So it would have been better if it was closer to 50 floors. Still, it could have been worse and it should look pretty nice once it's built.

KevinFromTexas · #**1335** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 7:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

I like the glass but I don't quite get why they're putting it up so soon while the construction and structure is so raw.

It's probably just a sample from the manufacturer of the ordered glass. They want to iron out the wrinkles early on so that when they need the rest of it there won't be any unpleasant surprises.

the Genral · #**1336** Posted **Feb 27, 2016, 11:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It's probably just a sample from the manufacturer of the ordered glass. They want to iron out the wrinkles early on so that when they need the rest of it there won't be any unpleasant surprises.

Both explainations make sense, but that's what I was thinking Kevin. If they go all out with the glass installation, they would catch up with the floor under construction pretty quick, and I imagine it would be inevitable that more than a few panes would get broken. But I guess if they go nuts and start wrapping the skeleton in glass right away, then they want to get this thing built and online asap.

H2O · #**1337** Posted **Feb 28, 2016, 1:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

Both explainations make sense, but that's what I was thinking Kevin. If they go all out with the glass installation, they would catch up with the floor under construction pretty quick, and I imagine it would be inevitable that more than a few panes would get broken. But I guess if they go nuts and start wrapping the skeleton in glass right away, then they want to get this thing built and online asap.

See 500 W 2nd (Google Tower) for another example of early dry-in.

The ATX · #**1338** Posted **Mar 1, 2016, 6:16 AM**

Manchester has started posting updates on their Facebook page. Here are a few:

This one is my favorite:

Da link: https://www.facebook.com/Manchester-...0833582523003/

corvairkeith · #**1339** Posted **Mar 14, 2016, 6:18 PM**

Today.

the Genral · #**1340** Posted **Mar 14, 2016, 7:34 PM**

We won't be able to count the horizontal lines on the glass panes to get an accurate floor count. Those floors below the current top three look to be 16 foot tall. What are they supposed to be I wonder?
And because of the glass exterior, I'm going to excuse the height adjustment. This thing will still be impessive.