AUSTIN | Projects & Construction III - Page 123

AusTex · #1 Posted **Sep 14, 2013, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by P3FE

I went from living and working downtown and being intimately familiar with every projects' daily progress to living in a mud hut with a grass roof in the Zambian bush. But somehow through the miracle of technology, and even though I have neither running water or electricity, I have a phone with the internet. So for the next 2 years, you guys will be my only link to the development at home. I can't imagine what the city will look like when I get back.

Thanks for Joining the Peace Corps. I hope you do stay for the full two years...meaning no emergency back home. Downtown will have a few more shadows early and late in the day. They will be from buildings so don't get spooked thinking they are super big animals.

lzppjb · #2 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 1:12 PM**

Jude just posted the most up-to-date renderings of Waller Center. Lots of them.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/0...waller-center/

The ATX · #3 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 1:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

Jude just posted the most up-to-date renderings of Waller Center. Lots of them.

http://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/0...waller-center/

The renderings just keep getting better. But I think someone is doing a lot of fantasizing. I want to see the site plan before I get more excited about this project.

KevinFromTexas · #4 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 10:19 PM**

We'll be getting a new building, but a rare event will have to occur for it to happen. A highrise will be demolished first to make room. The Engineering Science Center, built in 1964, will be demolished. It's 127 feet tall with 8 floors.

Aerial map of the building:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=30.28...=h&dg=opt&z=20

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/s...ineerin/nZth3/

Quote:

Updated: 11:40 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 | Posted: 10:22 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013
GOVERNMENT SPENDING: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UT regents approve plan for $310 million engineering building

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz
American-Statesman Staff

The University of Texas can now proceed with a plan to build a $310 million engineering education and research center.

UT System regents unanimously approved the plan Thursday. Approval had been expected.

The new building, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2017, will replace a cramped and inefficient engineering building constructed a half-century ago.

NYC_Longhorn · #5 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 12:01 AM**

[QUOTE=KevinFromTexas;6265084]We'll be getting a new building, but a rare event will have to occur for it to happen. A highrise will be demolished first to make room. The Engineering Science Center, built in 1964, will be demolished. It's 127 feet tall with 8 floors.

Aerial map of the building:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=30.28...=h&dg=opt&z=20

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/s...ineerin/nZth3/

I fucking love Austin and UT.... I want Holyfield!

hookem · #6 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 12:13 AM**

When I first moved to Austin (to go to UT), I spent a lot of time in that building. At the time, I noticed a theme with 3 local buildings that had a similar style to me, and I associated that with Austin... a 50s-early 60s style. This building (ENS), Mueller Airport, and the Palmer Auditorium. Now they are all gone!

StoOgE · #7 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 4:29 AM**

What do we have to do to get RLM and the PCL replaced?

NYC_Longhorn · #8 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

What do we have to do to get RLM and the PCL replaced?

probably would need the particle accelerator in the basement of RLM to go into meltdown

wwmiv · #9 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 4:13 PM**

Eh. The new version sucks compared to the version from two weeks ago.

GoldenBoot · #10 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Eh. The new version sucks compared to the version from two weeks ago.

I would agree. How sad that Sutton will not make an attempt to develop Austin's tallest.

wwmiv · #11 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I would agree. How sad that Sutton will not make an attempt to develop Austin's tallest.

I would have been fine without the tallest, frankly, but this design itself is hideous.

eburress · #12 Posted **Sep 16, 2013, 5:42 PM**

While I too prefer the previous version, I think this version of the towers is going to look a lot better in real life - some of the renderings just aren't doing it justice. And in any case, I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about it because there's a good chance they'll change a few more times again before this project actually kicks off! haha

Syndic · #13 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 5:14 AM**

Broadstone at the Lake is a bit more massive and hulking than I expected it to be. I like the large balconies; especially the ones going across the top. That said, I'm not a fan of the raised sidewalk. It disrupts the building's connection with the street and hurts walkability. This is why we need a form-based zoning code. Still, I think this one will affect perceptions of the area even more than The Catherine.

Image courtesy of BuildingATX

wwmiv · #14 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 5:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndic

Broadstone at the Lake is a bit more massive and hulking than I expected it to be. I like the large balconies; especially the ones going across the top. That said, I'm not a fan of the raised sidewalk. It disrupts the building's connection with the street and hurts walkability. This is why we need a form-based zoning code. Still, I think this one will affect perceptions of the area even more than The Catherine.

Image courtesy of BuildingATX

I'm fine with the raised sidewalk. Multiple other projects have had them without affecting walkability. It's still a net plus, so keep that in mind.

KevinFromTexas · #15 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 12:49 AM**

Yuck. Those look like some mid-90s Sim City inspired college project.

And actually some of those horizontal windows and the shifting facades with a mix of glass and stone remind me of mid-century design.

Also the color and angles remind me a bit of the Omni convention center hotel in Fort Worth.

Kotliz · #16 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 1:28 AM**

I would be very interested to see a model of this design.

I kind-of like the over-all effect, but the black construction lines of the redering I think make it look more busy/fussy, than the buildings would appear in life. And while I am so glad it's not brown, the blue is a little too vivid for my taste. On the plus side, I see echoes of the Spring Condo's, in the residential tower. If done right, aluminum, blue glass and lime stone could look spectacular. I really like the addition of greenery on some of the terraces.

That said, as "eburress" said above, the chances that this is the finished design are pretty remote.

kingkirbythe.... · #17 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 1:22 AM**

Now, I don't want them built. Fugly.

East7thStreet · #18 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 1:32 AM**

The two taller buildings seem o.k.. It's the short office building that may be the worst rendering I have seen for a downtown Austin proposal. Absolutely hideous..... and with the limestone base for all the buildings....ugh.

NYC_Longhorn · #19 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 1:40 AM**

The Waller project looks great! I wish it was taller for sure... but I think this will look really good... Reminds me of One Madison Park which ended up being pretty cool....

ahealy · #20 Posted **Sep 17, 2013, 4:03 AM**

I actually prefer Green's current design over Waller. Everything happening on Rainey lately just turns me off.