HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > Austin


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #1461  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 3:51 PM
We vs us We vs us is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,587
Quote:
Originally Posted by the Genral View Post
Perhaps some of the budget is going towards creekbed enhancements . . .
In talking with some of the Fairmont folks, this is correct. Much of the $6M will go to parkifying that stretch of the creek and not to the skywalk proper.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1462  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 3:53 PM
wwmiv wwmiv is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Austin -> San Antonio -> Columbia -> San Antonio -> Chicago -> Austin -> Denver
Posts: 5,271
Quote:
Originally Posted by We vs us View Post
In talking with some of the Fairmont folks, this is correct. Much of the $6M will go to parkifying that stretch of the creek and not to the skywalk proper.
That's amazing.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1463  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 5:06 PM
resansom resansom is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 248
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwmiv View Post
That's amazing.
I'm an expatriate, but I seem to recall a great BBQ place right there, on the corner, across the street from the hotel - I think it was called "Ironworks?" I remember looking at Waller Creek from there - it was not a very pretty site, at the time, and I remember wishing that the city would do something about it, someday. Does anyone know if that BBQ place is going to remain on that site (or even if it's still there)?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1464  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 5:18 PM
LoneStarMike's Avatar
LoneStarMike LoneStarMike is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,263
That's Iron Works and it's still there and I assume it's staying.

Edited to add: A posting from Iron Works FB page "An update on the progess of our new neighbor @FairmontHotels."

Last edited by LoneStarMike; Sep 16, 2016 at 5:27 PM. Reason: added info
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1465  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 10:41 PM
jowens jowens is offline
on the south side
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Austin
Posts: 601
[QUOTE=lzppjb;7555594]I hate Chrome. All hail, the Snipping Tool. These are Mopacs photos, obviously.



Another big plus for the Fairmonts presence on the eastern edge of the downtown skyline, it minimizes the view of the hideous Hilton that has stuck out like like a sore thumb when approaching the downtown skyline from I-35 south for almost 15 years.
__________________
Southwest Austin
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1466  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2016, 11:53 PM
the Genral's Avatar
the Genral the Genral is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Between RRock and a hard place
Posts: 4,431
But the Hilton Garden Inn is truly the building that needs to be blocked from view somehow.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1467  
Old Posted Sep 18, 2016, 1:03 AM
drummer drummer is offline
World Traveler
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Austin metro area
Posts: 4,470
^^ Yes.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1468  
Old Posted Sep 18, 2016, 5:08 PM
corvairkeith's Avatar
corvairkeith corvairkeith is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,476
9/18





















These are from a few weeks ago. I was unable to post due to computer problems. I really like the way the glass reflects clouds.





Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1469  
Old Posted Sep 19, 2016, 12:21 AM
the Genral's Avatar
the Genral the Genral is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Between RRock and a hard place
Posts: 4,431
The covering is nice, the design is...ok, everything when completed should be top notch, I'm just a little disappointed with the height. It just seems shorter than I thought it would be. With only a few floors to go plus the cap, it will still seem short. I don't think the spire will improve on that but we'll see. Sticking it on one end of a rectangular building seems like an odd fit when I try to imagine it. I'm going to have to see it in person once the spire is up and form my final opinion because right now I'm on the fence. I like it but I wouldn't go back for more att. From pic 1 and 5, it resembles the JW. There's not a whole lot of architectural seperation aside from the cladding and vertical notch.
Nice pics corvairkeith.

Last edited by the Genral; Sep 19, 2016 at 12:32 AM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1470  
Old Posted Sep 19, 2016, 5:38 AM
KevinFromTexas's Avatar
KevinFromTexas KevinFromTexas is offline
Meh
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: there and back again
Posts: 57,324
I think the size of it sort of distorts the height a bit and makes it seem shorter than it is. I was taking pictures of the skyline from the South Austin Hospital garage (I still need to get them up) - anyway, from that garage + the ground elevation, you're nearly even with some of the tallest buildings in downtown. I noticed it's still somewhat shorter than the Four Seasons right now. The Four Seasons Residences is 401 feet to the mechanical penthouse boxes. The Fairmont will be 456 feet to the mechanical screen and 420 feet to the main roof. So it'll be a little taller. It'll still have the 2nd highest roof east of Congress, and it'll have the 5th highest roof until the Independent and 5th & West are finished.

Design-wise, I can take it or leave it. Every time I look at this building I try to envision what the original design would have looked like, and I gotta say, it sucks that's the reaction I have every time I see it. As for the JW Marriott, I think it's better building actually. The glass accents on that one makes it one of the most interesting facades we've seen so far.

Anyway, what I'm looking forward to most now is the lighting, the views from it, and watching the spire go up and how it'll affect the skyline.
__________________
Donate to Donald Trump's campaign today!

Thou shall not indict
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1471  
Old Posted Sep 19, 2016, 2:16 PM
We vs us We vs us is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,587
Quote:
Originally Posted by the Genral View Post
From pic 1 and 5, it resembles the JW.
When you put the two side by side, the similarity is uncanny. I really think both White Lodging and Manchester were working from the same Butterick pattern for this one -- a six or so story podium for public space and a flat rectangular obelisk for 1000ish rooms. Though to be honest, understanding that a hotel of that size needs certain things -- a parking garage, a certain amount of meeting space, a certain number of food outlets -- and given that both had about a city block to fill, the podium/obelisk setup just might be the best use of space.

I still think it's an important linchpin project for that strip of the city. I guarantee you'll see more development start to fill in there within the next few years.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1472  
Old Posted Sep 19, 2016, 3:52 PM
tie_guy's Avatar
tie_guy tie_guy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 180
Quote:
Originally Posted by We vs us View Post
When you put the two side by side, the similarity is uncanny.
To me, they're basically twin towers. Fairmont being the male tower
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1473  
Old Posted Sep 19, 2016, 6:55 PM
Jdawgboy's Avatar
Jdawgboy Jdawgboy is offline
Representing the ATX!!!
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Austin
Posts: 5,732
Quote:
Originally Posted by tie_guy View Post
To me, they're basically twin towers. Fairmont being the male tower
__________________
"GOOD TIMES!!!" Jerri Blank (Strangers With Candy)
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1474  
Old Posted Sep 20, 2016, 1:38 PM
JACKinBeantown's Avatar
JACKinBeantown JACKinBeantown is offline
JACKinBeantown
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 8,824
Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas View Post
I think the size of it sort of distorts the height a bit and makes it seem shorter than it is.
That always happens with plain glass buildings. All the glass blends together to form one "solid" rectangular shape, so there's nothing to relate it to human scale to give it any sense of actual height. With buildings in which you can clearly delineate the windows (art deco or neo-gothic for example) you get a sense of scale and the buildings in those architectural styles always appear taller than all glass buildings of a similar shape.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1475  
Old Posted Sep 20, 2016, 4:22 PM
clubtokyo's Avatar
clubtokyo clubtokyo is offline
クラブトクヨ
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,091
The base is going to look really nice in my opinion.

Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1476  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2016, 2:27 PM
JACKinBeantown's Avatar
JACKinBeantown JACKinBeantown is offline
JACKinBeantown
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 8,824
Quote:
Originally Posted by clubtokyo View Post
The base is going to look really nice in my opinion.
I respect your opinion. But does it add anything to what makes Austin great? I think it would fit right in near the Houston airport.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1477  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2016, 5:51 PM
clubtokyo's Avatar
clubtokyo clubtokyo is offline
クラブトクヨ
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,091
Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown View Post
I respect your opinion. But does it add anything to what makes Austin great? I think it would fit right in near the Houston airport.
I am not native to Austin, and everyone seems to have a different idea of what makes Austin great. What makes Austin great to you?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1478  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2016, 5:56 PM
wwmiv wwmiv is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Austin -> San Antonio -> Columbia -> San Antonio -> Chicago -> Austin -> Denver
Posts: 5,271
Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown View Post
I respect your opinion. But does it add anything to what makes Austin great? I think it would fit right in near the Houston airport.
This would not fit in near the Houston airport. Not sure how you can say that at all...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1479  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2016, 6:40 PM
urbancore urbancore is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Zilker
Posts: 1,508
Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown View Post
I respect your opinion. But does it add anything to what makes Austin great? I think it would fit right in near the Houston airport.
It adds jobs...that's great.
It adds hotel rooms, that's REALLY great.
It replaces a parking lot, that's super.
It adds tax revenue to our (inexplicably) stretched budget.
It adds another tower to our ever growing skyline, if you are into that sorta thing. Even buildings I hate are cool to me because they fill in the skyline.
GREAT!
Fairmont's I've visited are typically high design, taking cues from the surrounding city. Austin has plenty of "make it work" design, and could stand to use some more high design. Do we have to all were jeans all day everyday? I'm building my house in Zilker now, and my wife and I toured dozens of very nice homes in very nice neighborhoods for design inspiration, and found the most exciting design inspiration came from new well designed homes in The freaking Woodlands of all places. I'm ashamed to say that, but the "old rusted" Austin look is tiring.

sorry for the tangent. Basically, I'm pumped to see this property.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #1480  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2016, 7:35 PM
We vs us We vs us is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,587
Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown View Post
I respect your opinion. But does it add anything to what makes Austin great? I think it would fit right in near the Houston airport.
I get it. I don't think it's an airport property but when you drive by there's something out of scale about it -- especially surrounded as it is by 1) a single story convention center 2) a single story raised highway and 3) open lots on all sides. That podium looks like it belongs in the middle of a fully developed block. It kind of looms.

In time stuff will fill in around it, but I agree, for now it sticks out in a weird way.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > United States > Texas & Southcentral > Austin
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 9:57 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.