AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[KevinFromTexas]

Updated: 10/17/08

Recent updates:

Revised height for W Hotel/Block 21
Moved 360 Condominiums, The Monarch and The Shore to 'Completed' list.
Added Texas Monthly Office Building
Moved W Hotel to under construction.
Lowered 800 West's height from 250 feet to 120 feet tall.
Moved The Terrace III and IV to highrise list.
Added T. Stacy Project
Added Emporis links for Westin Hotel and the Museum Tower.
Added Westin Hotel Downtown Austin
Added Hines Office Tower
Added heights for Palisades West I
Updated height for 21Rio - 236 feet.
Revised the mainroof height for The Austonian


Since the last thread has now hit 2,000 posts, we've started a new one. 2007 looks to be an interesting year for Austin with many exciting highrise projects in the works.

The old thread has been sent to the Thread Archive - Click here to see it.

Austin's Skyscraper Boom:
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Notes:

• Buildings that are listed here as highrises are known to be atleast 115 feet tall from information obtained through construction documents at the construction site, developer's presentations and newspaper articles.

• The heights and information for these projects will likely change as these projects progress.

• TO = Topped out.

color code:


red = over 1,000 ft <-- ?
darkblue = 900 - 999 ft
olive = 800 - 899 ft
magenta = 700 - 799 ft
green = 600 - 699 ft
blue = 500 - 599 ft
brown = 400 - 499 ft
chocolate = 300 - 399 ft
purple = 200 - 299 ft
Black = under 200 ft

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Highrises:

     Name                                         Use            Struct. Ht.    Mainroof   Flrs.  Year    Website   Borough    Neighborhood

Under construction:

1. The Austonian                                Residential       683 ft      622 ft      56    2009    Website   Downtown   2nd Street District

2. W Austin Hotel & Residences                  Hotel/Res.        476 ft      ??? ft      36    2010    Website   Downtown   2nd Street District

3. Four Seasons Residences                      Residential       394 ft      ??? ..      32    2009    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

4. Federal Courthouse                           Courthouse        135 ft      ??? ..      7     2009    .......   Downtown   Warehouse District

5. St. David's Medical Center                   Office            120 ft      ??? ..      8     2008    .......   Cen.Aus.   Hancock

6. La Vista on Lavaca                           Residential       119 ft      ??? ..      8     2008    Website   Downtown   Uptown

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     Name                                         Use            Struct. Ht.    Mainroof   Flrs.  Year    Website   Borough    Neighborhood

Site prep/Demolition:

1. The Orsay                                    Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      8     ????    .......   Downtown   Financial District

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Notes:

* ~ The Capitol Tower is an existing office building built in 1986. The building is 246 feet tall with 20 floors and will be renovated. A new rooftop crescent shaped crown will be added that will increase the building's height to 259 feet.

     Name                                         Use            Struct. Ht.    Mainroof   Flrs.  Year    Website   Borough    Neighborhood

Approved:

1. 7Rio                                         Residential       400 ft      ??? ..      33    2008    Website   Downtown

2. Capitol Tower*                               Office            246 ft      ??? ..      20    1986    .......   Downtown   Financial District

3. Gables Park Plaza                            Residential       195 ft      ??? ..      15    2008    .......   Downtown

4. Red River Residential Tower                  Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      27    2009    .......   Downtown

5. St. David's North Austin Medical Center      Hospital          ??? ..      ??? ..      8     2009    .......   N.Austin

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     Name                                         Use            Struct. Ht.    Mainroof   Flrs.  Year    Website   Borough    Neighborhood

Proposed:

1. T. Stacy & Associates Hotel & Condo Tower    Hotel/Res.        830 ft      ???  ..     70    ????    .......   Downtown   Financial District    

2. 21C Austin                                   Hotel/Res.        580 ft      ??? ..      44    2010    Website   Downtown

3. 401-499 West 6th Street                      Hotel/Res.        550 ft      ??? ..      40    2010    .......   Downtown

4. Ovation                                      Residential       450 ft      ??? ..      35    2009    .......   Downtown

5. T. Stacy & Associates Office Tower           Office            420 ft      ??? ..      30    2011    .......   Downtown   Financial District

6. Museum Tower                                 Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      30    2011    .......   Downtown   Warehouse District

7. The Terrace III                              Office            212 ft      ??? ft      16    ????    .......   SW.Austin

8. The Terrace IV                               Office            205 ft      ??? ft      16    ????    .......   SW.Austin

9. East Avenue Andaz Hotel & Residences         Hotel/Res.        182 ft      ??? ft      17    2010    .......   Cent.Aus.  Hancock

10. 800 West                                     Residential       120 ft      ??? ft      ??    ????    .......   Downtown

11. Marriott Convention Center Hotel             Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      34    2009    .......   Downtown   Financial District

12. TWELVE Domain                                Hotel/Res.        ??? ..      ??? ..      28    ????    Website/2 N.Austin   The Domain

13. Seaholm Plaza Hotel                          Hotel/Res.        ??? ..      ??? ..      22    2009    .......   Downtown   West End

14. 220-300 East Riverside Drive Tower I         Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      18    2009    .......   S.Austin

15. 220-300 East Riverside Drive Tower II        Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      18    2009    .......   S.Austin

16. 220-300 East Riverside Drive Tower III       Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      18    2009    .......   S.Austin

17. Westin Hotel Downtown Austin                 Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      18    ????    .......   Downtown   Warehouse District

18. The Park at Aspen Lake Building C            Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      15    ????    .......   NW.Austin  Jollyville

19. The Park at Aspen Lake Building D            Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      15    ????    .......   NW.Austin  Jollyville

20. Capitol Commons                              Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      10    ????    .......   Downtown   Uptown

21. The Domain Apartments                        Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      8     2008    .......   N.Austin   The Domain

22. The Domain Hotel                             Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      8     ????    .......   N.Austin   The Domain

[KevinFromTexas]

Updated: 9/7/08

Recent updates:

Removed renderings for 360 Condominiums, The Monarch and The Shore
Removed old renderings for 21C and added new rendering.
Added rendering for Museum Tower.
Update 2/26/08 - Removed the renderings for 501 Congress & AquaTerra

Highrise Renderings:

Notes:

• - Click on the thumbnails to view the full sized image in a new window.
  
• - Asterisk indicates that building is under renovation

Under Construction:

The Austonian - 683 feet - 56 floors - 2009
Computer generated aerial flyover video

W Austin Hotel & Residences - 476 feet - 36 floors - 2010


Four Seasons Residences - 394 feet - 32 floors - 2010


Federal Courthouse - 135 feet - 7 floors - 2009


St. David's Medical Center - 120 feet - 8 floors


La Vista on Lavaca - 119 feet - 8 floors - 2008


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Approved:

7Rio - 400 feet - 33 floors - 2008


Capitol Tower* - 246 feet - 20 floors - 1986 - Rooftop structure will increase the height to 259 feet.


Gables Park Plaza I - 195 feet - 15 floors - 2008


The Orsay - 8 floors


The Domain Hotel - 8 floors

Photo by Mopacs

The Domain Apartments - 8 floors - 2008


St. David's North Austin Medical Center


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Proposed:

21C Austin - 49 floors - 2010


Marriott Convention Center Hotel - 31 floors


Seaholm Plaza Hotel - 22 floors - 2009


East Avenue Andaz Hotel & Residences - 182 feet - 17 floors - 2010


The Park at Aspen Lake - 15 floors


The Park - 14 floors - 2009


Capitol Commons - 10 floors

Photo by KevinFromTexas

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Articles:

How high is too high?
Soaring project could pave way for denser downtown 
Article here with 2 beautiful aerials of downtown.  This was in the paper.  It asks the question, "What is too high for downtown Austin?"  
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=70078&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

Downtown apartments on track to ascend
An article on this page about 101 Colorado, a 28-story condo tower which will rise directly to the west of 100 Congress.  And also 805 West 5th Street, a 24-story condo tower which is slated for the West End at West 5th and West Avenue.  The article also has prices for many of the projects.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=70078&perpage=25&pagenumber=3

3 residential projects set for downtown Austin
Article on 3 residential projects set for the west and east sides of downtown.  2 of them will be 8 floors, probably around 120 feet tall or so.  4 replies below that is an article about new hotels planned for downtown.  One of them is the hotel portion in the new 680 footer.  The other would be an upscale hotel, either a Ritz, or W-Hotel planned for West 3rd and Colorado.  That hotel could have 300 to 400 rooms.  It's been in the planning stages since 2000 but was put on hold.  No renderings yet.  The developers say they're moving ahead with development soon.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=70078&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

40-story condo tower planned for downtown
This is the Novare Group Tower, planned for 300 West Nueces, at West 3rd and Nueces Street.  The building will be 520 feet tall with 40 floors.  We're expecting a rendering of this tower any day now.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=70078&perpage=25&pagenumber=6

New downtown condo tower will rise 36 stories
The project's name is "Spring", it is planned to be 400 feet tall with 36 floors, residential.  The architect, (Foad Raffi), is from Vancouver, and this is the first building in the United States that he has designed.  The tower, which will be quite narrow and tall, is planned for West 3rd and Bowie Street.  
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=70078&perpage=25&pagenumber=5

New "Austin City Limits" home will have 1,000 seats, year-round performances
Article on block party and design of project.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=117690

World-renowned architects designing Austin high-rise
Tower at Fifth and Congress could be city's tallest.
Article talks about Cesar Pelli designing the tower at 501 Congress Avenue.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=104192&page=2

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Related threads at SkyscraperPage:

Compilation threads:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Austin update

Austin Metro Transportation Updates

The Domain and North Burnet Gateway Updates

GoogleEarth models by priller

Individual building construction threads:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Austonian
360 condominiums
Spring
W Austin Hotel & Residences
Altavida
Legacy @ Town Lake
The Monarch
The Shore

Individual building proposal threads:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUSTIN | The Austonian | 683 FT / 208 M | 56 FLOORS

AUSTIN | T. Stacy Towers 2 bldgs| 830 feet/253 meters | 70 FLOORS | 30 FLOORS

AUSTIN | Novare/Andrews Urban Towers | 550 & 450 feet | 40 & 35 FLOORS

AUSTIN | 21C Austin | 580 feet | 44 FLOORS

AUSTIN - 36 story W hotel, residences, and ACL venue

AUSTIN | Museum Tower | 30 FLOORS

Spring & Legacy updates

AUSTIN ~ Twelve Domain - 28 floors ~320 feet

Marriott Downtown Complex

Hotel Van Zandt updates

Austin - Seaholm Plaza Hotel - 22 floors

Archived threads:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Austin Projects & Construction I

[KevinFromTexas]

Updated: 9/7/08

Recent updates:

Added 360 Condominiums, The Monarch and The Shore to list.
Added main roof heights to the University Towers I, II, & III. - 120 feet.
Update 6/26/07 - Moved the Dell Children's Medical Center to the completed highrises list.
Update 6/22/07 - added building height for J.J. Pickle Federal Building - 148 feet tall.

Austin's Tallest Buildings:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes:

• Buildings listed here are atleast 115 feet tall. Buildings that don't have heights listed are estimated to be atleast that tall.

color code:


red = over 1,000 ft <-- ?
darkblue = 900 - 999 ft
olive = 800 - 899 ft
magenta = 700 - 799 ft
green = 600 - 699 ft
blue = 500 - 599 ft
brown = 400 - 499 ft
chocolate = 300 - 399 ft
purple = 200 - 299 ft
Black = under 200 ft

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     Name                                         Use            Struct. Ht.    Mainroof   Flrs.  Year    Website   Borough    Neighborhood

Austin's Completed Highrises:

1. 360 Condominiums                             Residential       563 ft      462 ft      44    2008    Website/2 Downtown

2. Frost Bank Tower                             Office            515 ft      424 ft      33    2004    Website   Downtown   Financial District

3. Spring                                       Residential       434 ft      405 ft      43    2009    Website   Downtown   West End

4. Ashton                                       Residential       412 ft      ??? ..      36    2008    Website   Downtown   2nd Street District

5. One Congress Plaza                           Office            398 ft      393 ft      30    1987    Website   Downtown   Financial District

6. One American Center                          Office            397 ft      383 ft      32    1984    Website   Downtown   Financial District

7. Austin Hilton Convention Center Hotel        Hotel/Res.        377 ft      354 ft      31    2004    Website   Downtown   Convention Center

8. Legacy @ Town Lake                           Residential       339 ft      322 ft      31    2009    Website   Downtown   Waterfront District

9. Bank of America Center                       Office            336 ft      320 ft      25    1975    Website   Downtown   Financial District

10. 300 West Sixth Street                        Office            328 ft      292 ft      23    2002    Website   Downtown   Financial District

11. 100 Congress                                 Office            328 ft      289 ft      22    1987    Website   Downtown   Financial District

12. San Jacinto Center                           Office            324 ft      290 ft      21    1987    Website   Downtown   Financial District

13. The Monarch                                  Residential       323 ft      300 ft      29    2008    Website/2 Downtown   West End

14. Chase Bank Tower                             Office            322 ft      291 ft      21    1974    Website   Downtown   Financial District

15. Texas State Capitol                          Capitol           311 ft      295 ft      4     1888    Website   Downtown   Capitol Complex

16. University of Texas Tower                    Univ.Office       307 ft      ??? ..      29    1937    Website   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

17. Dobie Center                                 Dormitory         307 ft      ??? ..      29    1972    Website   Cen.Aus.   The Drag

18. 301 Congress                                 Office            306 ft      287 ft      22    1986    Website   Downtown   Financial District

19. Westgate Tower                               Residential       261 ft      236 ft      25    1967    .......   Downtown   Uptown

20. The Shore                                    Residential       257 ft      237 ft      22    2008    Website   Downtown   Waterfront District

21. Capitol Tower                                Office            246 ft      219 ft      20    1986    .......   Downtown   Financial District

22. 816 Congress                                 Office            242 ft      208 ft      20    1984    Website   Downtown   Financial District

23. The Castilian                                Dormitory         237 ft      ??? ..      22    1969    Website   Cen.Aus    The Drag

24. William P. Clements State Office Building    Office            237 ft      207 ft      15    1986    .......   Downtown   Uptown

25. 21 Rio                                       Residential       236 ft      221 ft      21    2009    Website   Cen.Aus.   West Campus

26. Wells Fargo Tower                            Office            234 ft      224 ft      17    1981    .......   Downtown   Uptown

27. 823 Congress                                 Office            229 ft      203 ft      16    1971    Website   Downtown   Financial District

28. Austin Centre/Omni Hotel Downtown Austin     Hotel/Office      226 ft      200 ft      16    1986    Website   Downtown   Financial District

29. AMLI on 2nd                                  Residential       225 ft      203 ft      18    2008    Website   Downtown   2nd Street District

30. Robert Lee Moore Hall                        University        225 ft      202 ft      17    1974    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

31. Chase Bank Tower                             Office            210 ft      194 ft      15    1980    .......   Downtown   Financial District

32. Capitol Center                               Office            210 ft      181 ft      15    1984    .......   Downtown   Financial District

33. Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center    Jail              204 ft      177 ft      11    2000    .......   Downtown   Uptown

    
    
    190
    

34. Hilton Garden Inn Hotel                      Hotel             197 ft      181 ft      15    1984    .......   Downtown   East 6th Street Entertainment Dist.

    
    
    180
    

35. Norwood Tower                                Office            189 ft      153 ft      15    1929    Website   Downtown   Financial District

36. Lyndon Baines Johnson State Office Building  Office            188 ft      188 ft      12    1968    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

37. William B. Travis State Office Building      Office            188 ft      182 ft      12    ????    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

38. Hyatt Regency Hotel                          Hotel             185 ft      173 ft      17    1981    .......   S.Austin

39. Southwest Tower                              Office            185 ft      172 ft      13    1973    .......   Downtown   Financial District

40. Doubletree Austin Guest Suites               Hotel             183 ft      174 ft      15    1987    .......   Downtown   Uptown

41. One Texas Center                             Office            183 ft      170 ft      13    1983    .......   S.Austin

42. Cambridge Tower                              Residential       181 ft      174 ft      15    1960    .......   Downtown   Uptown

43. Stephen F. Austin Hotel                      Hotel             181 ft      168 ft      15    1924    Website   Downtown   Financial District

44. Austin City Lofts                            Residential       180 ft      171 ft      14    2004    Website   Downtown   West End

    
    
    170
    

45. Stephen F. Austin State Office Building      Office            179 ft      157 ft      11    ????    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

46. William P. Hobby Building I                  Office            178 ft      159 ft      14    1985    .......   Downtown   Warehouse District

47. The Plaza on Republic Square                 Residential       174 ft      136 ft      12    2001    Website   Downtown   Warehouse District

48. Jester Center West Tower                     Dormitory         173 ft      149 ft      14    1970    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

49. Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall                     University        172 ft      163 ft      11    1973    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

50. Sheraton Austin Hotel                        Hotel             170 ft      150 ft      16    1986    .......   Downtown   Waterloo Park

    
    
    160
    

51. Hampton Inn & Suites Austin Downtown         Hotel             166 ft      162 ft      16    2002    Website   Downtown   Convention Center

52. J.J. Pickle Federal Building                 Office            162 ft      148 ft      10    1965    .......   Downtown   Financial District

53. Univ. Med. Center at Brackenridge Hospital   Hospital          161 ft      137 ft      9     1974    .......   Downtown   Waterloo Park

54. Tower of the Hills                           Office            160 ft      ??? ..      10    1987    .......   FarNW.Aus. Jollyville

    
    
    150
    

55. Texas Medical Association                    Office            156 ft      153 ft      10    1991    .......   Downtown   Uptown

56. Sabine on Fifth                              Residential       155 ft      146 ft      10    1984    .......   Downtown   East 6th Street Entertainment District

57. Rebekah Baines Johnson Tower                 Assisted Living   155 ft      140 ft      15    1971    .......   E.Austin   Tenth Ward

    
    
    140
    

58. Waller Creek Center                          Office            149 ft      141 ft      10    1986    .......   Downtown   Waterloo Park

59. AT&T Switching Station                       Switching Station 148 ft      142 ft      8     ????    .......   Downtown   Financial District

60. Sam Houston State Office Building            Office            147 ft      ??? ..      9     ????    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

61. Perry Brooks Building                        Office            146 ft      132 ft      12    1952    .......   Downtown   Financial District

62. Southpark One                                Office            145 ft      135 ft      10    1984    Website   SE.Austin  Southpark

63. ACC Pinnacle Campus                          University        145 ft      ??? ..      10    1984    .......   FarSW.Aus. Oak Hill

64. Southfield Building                          Office            145 ft      ??? ..      9     1986    .......   S.Austin   Ben White Boulevard Corridor

65. Engineering Teaching Center II               University        144 ft      127 ft      11    ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

66. The Nokonah                                  Residential       143 ft      131 ft      11    2002    Website   Downtown   West End

67. Milago Condominiums                          Residential       142 ft      130 ft      13    2006    Website   Downtown   Waterfront District

68. Driskill Hotel Annex                         Hotel             142 ft      130 ft      12    1930    .......   Downtown   Financial District

69. Lakeside Apartments                          Residential       142 ft      130 ft      12    1967    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

70. Marriott Downtown Austin Hotel               Hotel             141 ft      132 ft      12    2006    Website   Downtown   Convention Center

71. Towers of Town Lake                          Residential       141 ft      125 ft      13    1983    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

72. Four Seasons Hotel                           Hotel             140 ft      107 ft      10    1987    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

    
    
    130
    

73. Ashbel Smith Building                        Univ.Office       139 ft      138 ft      10    1975    .......   Downtown   Financial District

74. Littlefield Building                         Office            139 ft      ??? ..      9     1912    .......   Downtown   Financial District

75. 811 Barton Building                          Office            139 ft      123 ft      9     1987    .......   S.Austin   Restaurant Row

76. IBM Austin Exec. Briefing Center Bldg. 901   Office            138 ft      131 ft      7     ????    .......   N.Austin   North Burnet/Gateway

77. IBM Austin Exec. Briefing Center Bldg. 903   Office            138 ft      131 ft      7     ????    .......   N.Austin   North Burnet/Gateway

78. IBM Austin Exec. Briefing Center Bldg. 905   Office            138 ft      131 ft      7     ????    .......   N.Austin   North Burnet/Gateway

79. Radisson Hotel & Suites                      Hotel             138 ft      120 ft      12    1965    .......   Downtown   Financial District

80. Holiday Inn Capitol Tower                    Hotel             138 ft      119 ft      14    1967    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

81. Holiday Inn Lake Tower                       Hotel             138 ft      119 ft      11    1985    .......   Downtown   Waterfront District

82. Brown Building                               Residential       137 ft      125 ft      10    1938    Website   Downtown   Financial District

83. Daniel Price Sr. State Office Building       Office            137 ft      125 ft      9     1986    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

84. 1005 Congress                                Office            137 ft      121 ft      10    1982    .......   Downtown   Financial District

85. Lavaca Plaza                                 Office            136 ft      127 ft      11    1983    .......   Downtown   Financial District

86. Ernest O. Thompson Building                  Office            136 ft      125 ft      11    1940    .......   Downtown   Financial District

87. Whole Foods Market Headquarters              Office            136 ft      121 ft      7     2005    .......   Downtown   Market District

88. Embassy Suites Hotel Austin North            Hotel             135 ft      ??? ..      10    ????    .......   N.Austin   Highland District

89. Brazos Place                                 Residential       134 ft      113 ft      14    1948    .......   Downtown   Financial District

90. Saint Edward's University Main Building      University        133 ft      ??? ..      4     1889    .......   S.Austin   Travis Heights

91. Executive Office Building                    Office            133 ft      112 ft      8     1973    .......   Downtown   Uptown

92. Texas Assocation of Counties Building        Office            132 ft      120 ft      8     2003    .......   Downtown   Uptown

93. 815 Brazos Building                          Office            132 ft      116 ft      11    1982    .......   Downtown   Financial District

94. Vaughan Building                             Office            130 ft      117 ft      10    1965    .......   Downtown   Financial District

95. Jester Center East Tower                     Dormitory         130 ft      111 ft      10    1973    .......   Cen.Austin University of Texas Campus

    
    
    
    120
    

96. Texas Monthly Office Building                Office            128 ft      120 ft      8     2009    .......   Cen.Aus    Hancock

97. Omni Hotel Southpark                         Hotel             128 ft      ??? ..      13    1983    .......   SE.Austin  Southpark

98. William P. Hobby Building II                 Office            127 ft      112 ft      9     1985    .......   Downtown   Warehouse District

99. Stonebridge Plaza I                          Office            126 ft      120 ft      9     1999    .......   NW.Austin  Balcones

100. Stonebridge Plaza II                         Office            126 ft      120 ft      9     2001    .......   NW.Austin  Balcones

101. 1616 Guadalupe                               Office            126 ft      99 ft       8     1963    .......   Downtown   Uptown

102. 1108 Lavaca                                  Office            126 ft      88  ft      9     2008    Website   Downtown   Financial District

103. Arboretum Plaza D                            Office            125 ft      ??? ..      10    ????    .......   NW.Austin

104. Seton Medical Center                         Hospital          125 ft      ??? ..      7     1975    .......   Cen.Aus.   Midtown Medical Complex

105. Dewitt C. Greer State Highway Building       Office            124 ft      110 ft      10    1933    .......   Downtown   Financial District

106. L. Theo Bellmont Hall                        University        123 ft      123 ft      10    1972    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

107. University Towers I                          Dormitory         121 ft      120 ft      10    1968    .......   Cen.Aus.   West Campus

108. University Towers II                         Dormitory         121 ft      120 ft      10    1968    .......   Cen.Aus.   West Campus

109. University Towers III                        Dormitory         121 ft      120 ft      10    1968    .......   Cen.Aus.   West Campus

110. Brown Heatly Building                        Office            121 ft      ??? ..      7     1989    .......   Cen.Aus.   Midtown/Brentwood

111. Scarbrough Building                          Office            121 ft      110 ft      8     1911    .......   Downtown   Financial District

112. 812 San Antonio                              Office            120 ft      116 ft      6     ????    .......   Downtown   West End

113. Dell Children's Medical Center               Hospital          120 ft      ??? ..      4     2007    Website   E.Austin   Mueller Airport

     
     
     115
     

114. Penthouse Condominiums                       Residential       119 ft      102 ft      11    1964    .......   Downtown   Uptown

115. Harry Ransom Center                          Museum            118 ft      113 ft      3     1972    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

116. Engineering Science Center                   University        118 ft      106 ft      8     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

117. Palisades West I                             Office            117 ft      102 ft      7     2008    .......   W.Austin

118. Tom C. Clark Building                        Office            116 ft      102 ft      8     1956    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

119. Cielo Center                                 Office            115 ft      ???  ft     6     ????    .......   W.Austin

     
     
     

120. Barton Creek Resort                          Hotel/Resort      ??? ..      ??? ..      10    1987    .......   W.Austin   Barton Creek

121. Renaissance Hotel                            Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      10    1986    .......   NW.Austin  The Arboretum

122. Arboretum Plaza D                            Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      10    ????    .......   NW.Austin  The Arboretum

123. Arboretum Plaza A                            Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      9     1986    .......   NW.Austin  The Arboretum

124. Embassy Suites Hotel                         Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      9     ????    .......   S.Austin

125. Marriott Courtyard Central                   Hotel             ??? ..      ??? ..      9     ????    .......   N.Austin   Highland District

126. National Instruments Building                Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      8     2002    .......   NW.Austin  Balcones

127. The Goodall Wooten                           Residential       ??? ..      ??? ..      8     ????    Website   Cen.Aus.   The Drag

128. Texas Department of Health                   Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      7     2001    .......   Cen.Aus.   Midtown

129. Braker Point III                             Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      7     2002    .......   NW.Austin  Balcones

130. Texas Department of Health Building          Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      7     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   Midtown/Brentwood

131. Texas Department of Health Building          Office            ??? ..      ??? ..      7     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   Midtown/Brentwood

132. Almetris Duren Hall                          Dormitory         ??? ..      ??? ..      6     2007    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

133. J.T. Patterson Laboratories Building         University        ??? ..      ??? ..      6     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

134. Neural Molecular Science Building            University        ??? ..      ??? ..      6     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

     
     
     Austin's Completed Lowrises:
     

135. Jesse H. Jones Communication Center Bldg. B  Univ.Studio       114 ft      110 ft      9     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

136. Travis Building                              Office            112 ft      93  ft      7     1946    .......   Downtown   Financial District

137. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum       Museum            110 ft      ??? ..      3     2001    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

138. Radisson Hotel Austin North                  Hotel             110 ft      ??? ..      9     ????    .......   N.Austin   Highland District

139. St. David's Medical Center                   Hospital          110 ft      ??? ..      6     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.

140. Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse Courthouse        104 ft      ??? ..      6     1930    .......   Downtown   Uptown

141. J.T. Patterson Laboratories Building         University        104 ft      89 ft       6     ????    .......   Cen.Aus.   University of Texas Campus

142. The Terrace VII                              Office            100 ft      87 ft       6     2002    .......   SW.Austin

143. Thomas Rusk State Treasury Building          Office            101 ft      ?? ..       6     1975    .......   Downtown   Financial District

144. AMLI Downtown                                Residential       100 ft      ?? ..       7     2004    .......   Downtown   2nd Street District

145. Employees Retirement System of Texas         Office            97 ft       ?? ..       4     ????    .......   Downtown   Capitol Complex

146. Computer Sciences Corporation HQ I           Office            90 ft       ?? ..       6     2001    .......   Downtown   2nd Street District

147. Computer Sciences Corporation HQ II          Office            90 ft       ?? ..       6     2001    .......   Downtown   2nd Street District

[Mopacs]

As posted by GoldenBoot in the Texas-South Central forum... Austin is about to get a new tallest (by a landslide).. Something tells me the Austin construction forum will be headed toward Part II very soon...

See article in tomorrow morning's Austin American-Statesman:

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/01/24//24downtown.html
http://www.theaustonian.com/

----------------

Austonian to tower over downtown

Proposed 55-story luxury condo tower will be Austin's tallest building when completed in 2009.



By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Austin's skyline is about to undergo its biggest change in history.

Soaring 22 stories higher than downtown's tallest existing building, a $200 million luxury condominium tower planned for Congress Avenue and Second Street will set a new bar for height and unit prices amid downtown's residential building boom.

Although the design isn't final, the Austonian could rise up to 700 feet, dwarfing the 33-story, 515-foot Frost Bank Tower at Congress and Fourth Street once it's finished in 2009. Construction is set to start late this year at 200 Congress Ave., which is now a parking lot.
The 55-story Austonian would eclipse the tallest residential tower under construction downtown, a 563-foot condominium tower with 44 stories that Atlanta-based Novare Group Holdings LLC and its local partner, Andrews Urban LLC, are building at Third and Nueces streets.
The developer of the Austonian, Second Congress Ltd., an affiliate of Austin-based Benchmark Development, launched its Web site to begin marketing the project Tuesday.

The Austonian's upscale units could set a new benchmark for luxury living in the city's urban core. Though prices haven't been set for the 195 units, they are expected to start at about $500,000 for the smallest units with about 1,200 square feet, said David Mahn, vice president of Benchmark. Prices for the penthouse units would top $1 million.

Mahn said the Austonian's prices would be "very competitive" on a per-square-foot basis with other new downtown condominium projects. Prices also are expected to start at about $500,000 in a mixed-use condominium tower that local developer Tom Stacy plans for Fifth Street and Congress Avenue. Stacy's building, which has no timetable for breaking ground, is expected to rival Benchmark's in height.
Stacy also plans to build a striking glass tower that could rise up to 700 feet.
Mahn said the Austonian developers only recently settled on a 55-story building, which he said worked best from an economic standpoint, although a range of stories was considered during the design process.

The Austonian will have 500,000 square feet of space, roughly half the amount of a regional shopping center. A variance from the city will allow the developer to build a project with about double the square feet that existing zoning would have allowed.
Designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston, the building will be an elliptical glass and masonry tower atop a lush garden deck, with a pool area overlooking Congress Avenue. The high-rise will be topped with an illuminated architectural feature, which is still in the design stage.

In addition to a concierge and valet service, the building will offer residents workout facilities and a private area for meetings or parties on the top two floors.

With units in most of the downtown condo projects priced high, some developers have been shooting for more moderate starting prices. Prices for Novare's condo project, for example, will range from $190,000 for a 785-square-foot unit to $550,000 for a 1,638-square-foot unit.

Mahn said he expects the Austonian to appeal to a broad range of buyers, including many who work downtown.
"We think this is the perfect live/work/play/shop location," Mahn said.
The Austonian is one of at least four residential high-rises that developers plan to break ground on this year in downtown Austin as they seek to meet what they say is continued robust demand for urban living.
Several other condo and apartment projects are under construction downtown, and scores more are planned or under way near downtown as the condo craze spreads south and east.

That has led some to question whether the downtown condo market might be at risk of getting overbuilt, a phenomenon that has hit other cities, including Miami and Boston.

But Charles Heimsath, a local real estate expert who consulted on the Austonian project, said demand for downtown condos in Austin remains strong, "with each new project selling out in record time."
"Demand for the most expensive units in the existing projects has been slower, but none of them have been a 'super luxury' project on Congress Avenue," said Heimsath, president of Capitol Market Research. "I feel confident that the Austonian will be well-received by the market due to its extensive amenities, views and very high level of finish."

If all the planned units were to start at the same time, "then I think we might be facing an overbuilt high-end market," Heimsath said. "However, every project has its own unique attributes, pricing and market appeal, and that differentiation, along with the fact that the time between project completions is staggered, should keep the market strong."
Developers report healthy sales at their projects. At the Shore, a 23-story condo project under construction at Red River and Davis streets, only 10 of the 192 units are left, with prices ranging from $350,000 to $765,000, said Ian Stonington, the project's sales manager.

Seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong is an investor in the $55 million project, which is being developed by High Street Residential, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co. Armstrong has reserved a unit on an upper floor.
At Bridges on the Park, a condo project CLB Partners is building at South Lamar Boulevard and West Riverside Drive, 47 of the 104 units are under contract with non-refundable earnest money representing 5 percent of the purchase price, said Bobby Nail, the Austin partner for CLB Partners.

Another luxury condo project, the 20-story AquaTerra next to the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake, will break ground once buyers are lined up for half of the 173 units. The developers have said they expect to reach that goal early this year. The units are priced from $350,000 to $1.2 million.

Spring, a condominium tower at Third and Bowie streets, has 780 reservation holders for its 240 units, said Larry Warshaw, a partner in the 41-story project.

With downtown housing largely out of reach for middle-income buyers, some city leaders have voiced concerns about the area becoming an enclave of the well-heeled.

"It becomes a challenge to justify significant taxpayer investment in downtown if it becomes an urban Aspen or Vail," said Council Member Brewster McCracken. "It is in everyone's interest, including downtown property owners, that downtown developments include a broader range of housing prices than we're seeing currently."

Mahn concedes that the Austonian's starting prices will cut out some prospective buyers.
But he said Benchmark has and continues to build much more moderately priced housing elsewhere in Central Texas, including condominium projects in East and South Austin with partner Terry Mitchell. Those will have prices starting in the low $100,000s.
[email protected]; 445-3856

EDIT: Larger photo

[Mopacs]

Will this happen? Discuss...

[KevinFromTexas]

I just got off the phone with Shonda Novak. She says there will be a 2nd larger part to this article on Statesman.com tomorrow. Yipee, I helped with the rankings!

[JACKinBeantown]

Wow, that's a great rendering. Looks like a real photo.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Will this happen? Discuss...

Dunno.... but glad to see the desgin looks a lot more focused than the previous effort!!!!! Wonder if that is the real height or a point from which to negotiate? Very exciting!!!!!!!!

[KevinFromTexas]

Here is the extended version of the article from yesterday. Shonda Novak had contacted me for information about how this building would rank across the country among other residential towers. Although they didn't list any rankings in the article, I was still happy to assist.
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/01/24/24downtown.html

She seemed to be enthusiastic about the tower. She noted over the phone that "This thing will be beautiful."

Here's a closer view of it. I LOVE this design. I liked this tower from the beginning. Considering what they've done in the Houston area, I knew Zielger Cooper Architects wouldn't let us down. Very nice design here. Note the overhanging crown just below the very top floor. That is going to be such a nice feature on our skyline.


BENCHMARK DEVELOPMENT; ZIEGLER COOPER ARCHITECTS

[crewer]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Will this happen? Discuss...

For starters, it's a really nice building...probably the nicest one yet to be proposed. I think the street level floors look great, and the tower is stylish. It's modern, yet tasteful, and it's defintely something I would expect to see in Chicago where developers are constantly competing against other great developments in an effort to try and outdo each other.

My concern is that it's a mother lode of a building catering only to the big buck buyers. Couple this one with the huge San Jacinto development ($$$), and the other smaller ones for the upper crust, and I'd say we're teetering on the line of overbuilding.

Shonda Novak has done the same thing that other reporters have done all over the country. She used a real estate agent, in this case, Charles Heimsath, to be the spokesperson and "expert" on the need for downtown housing. That's like asking Proctor & Gamble to report on the need for laundry detergent. Come on! I would really like to hear from non-biased economists who specialize in housing demands that can give us a clearer perspective as to what's going on here and what risks we're facing. Heimsath's lines about demand for high end housing mirrors EXACTLY what realtors in DC were saying 15 months ago. What are they saying now? "We all knew the market was overbuilding and reaching unsustainable levels. Prices have to come down now for all these units to move."

I'm curious about something. Are there enough jobs in downtown to warrant all this housing? I recently read an article about downtown Vancouver's dwellers facing a reverse commute to the burbs for work since there's not enough downtown jobs for all those living there. Is Austin heading in that same direction?

[Mopacs]

Totally agree about the lower floors/street level... The base looks to be around the same height as the neighoring AMLI I apartment tower, which will blend in VERY well with the emerging 2nd St District they are located along. I'm sure they will contribute to the retail district with many stores/restaurants of their own.

I also agree about the real estate source for the article...very much a biased individual. Time will tell... I sure hope its built.

Kevin... have you seen any other renderings? I'm curious as to the N-S orientation, and whether it is wider than the E-W elevations. It definitely appears to be.

[Mopacs]

Here are some crude photoshopping that I put together about a year ago, integrating the original rendering released last year. As it turns out, the scale of my little photoshop endeavor was fairly consistent with the renderings posted in today's statesman... perhaps a bit shorter though.



And here's the original rendering, as posted on this forum last year, alongside the updated. You can see the base has changed, and the tower itself integrates much more glass than before (which gives it a much sleeker, modern look).

[LiveattheOasis]

So they are planning on breaking ground this year then? Did I miss in the article whether they had a certain number of units that had to be sold or pre-leased like Aquaterra before building would begin?

By the way, what an awesome building.

[JACKinBeantown]

What a rare case of the redesign being better than the original. Go Austin!

[Mopacs]

The website is up and there are additional renderings! Check this out

http://www.theaustonian.com

Press Release:

http://www.theaustonian.com/PressRelease.pdf

The Austonian

Focus on Luxury Urban Living, Environmental Features and Panoramic Views

Austin, Texas (January 23, 2007) –

Second Congress Ltd. today announced its newest residential

development, located in Austin at the Northwest corner of Congress Avenue and 2nd Street. The Austonian, a projected $200 million mixed-use, luxury high-rise condominium development, is scheduled to break ground the Summer of 2007 with an opening date of 2009. This project will be a welcome addition to the dynamic revitalization plans underway for the Second Street Retail District in downtown Austin.

"Luxury living is all about convenience and vision combined with elegance,” said David Mahn, project vice president for Second Congress Ltd. “The Austonian is going to be just that. It will offer a complete package of unmatched features and amenities in terms of its address and convenient location, important environmental green aspects, views that will be afforded to every resident, revitalization of the Second Street District of Austin, and an extraordinary architectural design and ‘wow-factor.’ We believe the
Austonian has it all.”

Designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston, The Austonian will be an elegant, 55-story, elliptical high-rise tower designed with a glass, stone and masonry window wall system atop an urban garden deck on Congress Avenue. At the top of the building, an illuminated architectural roof element will complement the Austin skyline.
“We are privileged to offer to Austin a downtown housing experience that we believe improves people’s lives. With over 28 restaurants, substantial retail, cultural activities and 5 million square feet of office space within a five-minute walk, one can live, work and play without ever getting in a car,” said Terry Mitchell, strategic marketing director for the project. “While the views are extraordinary, we are most excited about the City of Austin becoming a leader in redefining how we can live in a compact city environment with much less of an impact to our beautiful hill country,” he declared.

Construction plans for The Austonian will include important green building innovations, such as a rainwater capture and recycling system, in addition to reduced building emissions. Currently, there are 195 luxury residences with distinctive floor plans, plus compelling interior design selections on the drawing board. The property is being exclusively represented and sold through Austin-based Gottesman Residential Real Estate. Additional features will include a resort-style outdoor pool located in an urban garden area above street level with a conservatory encompassing an outdoor promenade sundeck and cabanas. The top of The Austonian will feature a first-class workout facility and a breathtaking, scenic gathering place that is exclusive to residents. Here, residents can conduct meetings or entertain guests while enjoying
breathtaking panoramic views. Project plans for The Austonian also include a private screening room, conference center, guest suites, and game room. There will be a secure dog park and a host of other personal services and amenities as well.

About Benchmark Development and Second Congress Ltd.

Benchmark Development

(Benchmark) located in Austin, Texas, is the principal of Second Congress

Ltd. Benchmark is a full-service development company, creating award-winning, single-family, condo, office, retail, and mixed-use projects in both the suburban and urban in-fill markets. Projects include “Plum Creek,” a 2200-acre traditional neighborhood design mixed-use community in Kyle, Texas.

Benchmark, a subsidiary of Grupo Villar Mir in Spain, specializes in reviving the great American neighborhood and fostering community interaction between citizens and local businesses.
# # #

For more information on The Austonian, please visit

www.theaustonian.com. For media inquires and

additional high resolution renderings and images contact:


Judy Schmidt
Levenson & Brinker Public Relations
214-932-6066 or 972-261-8004, [email protected]

[greenbelt]

awesome. interestly enough it hasn't changed much from the original post. still obviously not the finally rendering, but probably real close.

curious how the t-stacy building will respond in regard to floor count. any guesses on the height they might top out at, now that the austonian is more or less set. 700 and some change?

[JRCool]

WOW, so this is pretty much a sure thing huh? That's amazing, it's beautiful! It definatley looks weird to me right now, being that its so dramatically taller than everything else, but none the less I love it!! Can't wait to see it rise.

[crewer]

Originally Posted by JACKinNYC

What a rare case of the redesign being better than the original. Go Austin!

Agreed. I liked the original design when I first saw it, but I think it looks much better wrapping the glass around the sides rather than that solid siding shooting up 40 floors. Mopacs used the original in his PhotoShopped image. I did not like that solid vertical wall at all, particularly with the odd squared whatever the hell that is at the top of it. This new design is a major improvement.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by greenbelt

awesome. interestly enough it hasn't changed much from the original post. still obviously not the finally rendering, but probably real close.

curious how the t-stacy building will respond in regard to floor count. any guesses on the height they might top out at, now that the austonian is more or less set. 700 and some change?

I think its time for you to update your "Future Skyline" graphic!

[OfCourse]

Wow, the Austonian looks great! And it's a good thing it is going to take up that ugly parking lot. Icky!