Austin | The Republic | 710 Feet | 47 Floors | Complete

[Jdawgboy]

I have no idea why they brightened the base of the crown again. They had faded it for a time like the renderings and they need to change it back as it was much better looking than having the whole thing bright. Also there's already gaps in the stripe on both sides. It's a brand new building, it shouldn't be having lighting issues.

[clayton_rogue]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I have no idea why they brightened the base of the crown again. They had faded it for a time like the renderings and they need to change it back as it was much better looking than having the whole thing bright. Also there's already gaps in the stripe on both sides. It's a brand new building, it shouldn't be having lighting issues.

Agreed on the fading sentiment. As for the 'gaps', from what I can tell, it appears those gaps are on the floors where they are actively building out office space. My guess is that they've needed to disconnect the electric in those areas temporarily. I noticed them do this on one of the upper floors and then reconnect the missing gaps after a week or two.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I have no idea why they brightened the base of the crown again. They had faded it for a time like the renderings and they need to change it back as it was much better looking than having the whole thing bright. Also there's already gaps in the stripe on both sides. It's a brand new building, it shouldn't be having lighting issues.

I really hope the gradient lighting comes back too...

But if that bothers you, wait until you see Austonian's new random crown lighting. There's one "bar" dimly lit across frosted glass center.

Downtown lighting has gone downhill in the 2020s

[Riverranchdrone]

The top of the Republic is very bright. That might hide the gradiant.
[IMG]Barton Creek Mall by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Riverranchdrone

The top of the Republic is very bright. That might hide the gradiant.
[IMG]Barton Creek Mall by Jason Luebbe, on Flickr[/IMG]

The base is definitely brighter again than when it was dimmed. I have some pictures that I took, I'll need to look for them, of the crown when I noticed that they did dim the base and it was more noticeable for sure. I hope they put it back maybe once they build out the office space as Clayton mentioned.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I really hope the gradient lighting comes back too...

But if that bothers you, wait until you see Austonian's new random crown lighting. There's one "bar" dimly lit across frosted glass center.

Downtown lighting has gone downhill in the 2020s

Oh and check out the Sail, theres already sections out now. I swear I will go to city hall one of these days and say hire me as Downtown's lighting coordinator. Gotta get the butterfly bridge lit up again and fix all these buildings... Finally will make Fairmont use the lighting on the spire which they only tested once that I saw. These peeps need to get their act together..

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Oh and check out the Sail, theres already sections out now. I swear I will go to city hall one of these days and say hire me as Downtown's lighting coordinator. Gotta get the butterfly bridge lit up again and fix all these buildings... Finally will make Fairmont use the lighting on the spire which they only tested once that I saw. These peeps need to get their act together..

I'm glad I'm not alone

Remember the days when Monarch changed colors too?? I think 360 has been the only one to keep their lights in order all these years.

[AusTex]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Oh and check out the Sail, theres already sections out now. I swear I will go to city hall one of these days and say hire me as Downtown's lighting coordinator. Gotta get the butterfly bridge lit up again and fix all these buildings... Finally will make Fairmont use the lighting on the spire which they only tested once that I saw. These peeps need to get their act together..

Although I agree... Most US downtown skylines have MUCH Less lighting/interest at night than Austin; From the total number of buildings with lighting/interest to the variety of color and type/style of lighting. Austin's night time skyline "rocks" compared to most other US downtowns at nighttime. Just do an internet search.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by AusTex

Although I agree... Most US downtown skylines have MUCH Less lighting/interest at night than Austin; From the total number of buildings with lighting/interest to the variety of color and type/style of lighting. Austin's night time skyline "rocks" compared to most other US downtowns at nighttime. Just do an internet search.

I agree. The night time skyline just doesn't live up to the expectations that a lot of us would like to see. The Dark Skies project that is embraced by the City also affects it. For example, the Frost tower crown is lit until midnight: then goes dark. At least that was the case the last time I checked.

[the Genral]

Then we have the black outs during the cricket swarms and certain bird migrations unless I am mistaken.

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I agree. The night time skyline just doesn't live up to the expectations that a lot of us would like to see. The Dark Skies project that is embraced by the City also affects it. For example, the Frost tower crown is lit until midnight: then goes dark. At least that was the case the last time I checked.

I am pretty sure Frost is no longer lit, which is insane. I'm all about a better environment, but I think the dark skies thing is kind of silly for such a big city that sprawls out.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by ahealy

I am pretty sure Frost is no longer lit, which is insane. I'm all about a better environment, but I think the dark skies thing is kind of silly for such a big city that sprawls out.

Yeah, I checked Frost last night, and it was off before midnight.

[AusTex]

[QUOTE=The ATX;10531809...The Dark Skies project that is embraced by the City also affects it...[/QUOTE]


Seriously, What the h have I been missing the last 33 years as a resident. I have NEVER heard about any Austin Dark Skies Project. As I write this I am in Colorado where many cities and counties have many very well known projects. Austin?????? WHEN?

[KevinFromTexas]

All the burned out LEDs make my eyes twitch.

[wwmiv]

1991.

Tucson (1972), Phoenix (1974), San Diego (1980), Los Angeles (1988) are the only cities that beat Austin. And none of their ordinances are as comprehensive or detailed as Austin’s. Tucson’s is the best of the four, as it does have city-wide rules, but the focus for these cities is protecting the glare from the view of observatories which are locally important. As such, they limit lumens only in certain zones around observatories.

Austin’s rationale is actually entirely different and required a more expansive approach: migratory birds and butterfly interruption from lighting. This requires lumen rules, up lighting barriers, timing and cutoff regulations, among many other things. In this respect, Austin was the first.

The approach that Denver (1997) took differs from both Austin and the four observatory cities. Here, the city cared primarily about light trespass from one property to another and to the public RoW and so the rules focus on placement and coverings to prevent it. Denver’s code does not care about light bleeding into the atmosphere. Lived there—can vouch.

[AusTex]

I was just on DarkSky.org. Jonestown, Bee Cave, Liberty Hill, Horseshoe Bay Wimberley and Dripping Springs are listed as the only communities nearby as having a Dark Sky Program. Austin is not listed as having a "Program." Perhaps in 1991 a few Dark Sky respecting laws/ordinances were put into motion, however, no Dark Sky Program Program exists. Same Denver.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by AusTex

I was just on DarkSky.org. Jonestown, Bee Cave, Liberty Hill, Horseshoe Bay Wimberley and Dripping Springs are listed as the only communities nearby as having a Dark Sky Program. Austin is not listed as having a "Program." Perhaps in 1991 a few Dark Sky respecting laws/ordinances were put into motion, however, no Dark Sky Program Program exists. Same Denver.

Ehhh. DarkSky’s benchmarks for inclusion are particularly strict. I don’t use that as my benchmark, even though I do recognize it as the gold standard—largely because no major city will ever meet it for practical reasons.

[KevinFromTexas]

I work in Dripping Springs and spend time out there at night out in the country, and I've seen the milky way out there. I also saw the northern lights out there in November.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I work in Dripping Springs and spend time out there at night out in the country, and I've seen the milky way out there. I also saw the northern lights out there in November.

Outside of Pflugerville, I havent been able to see the milky way since the early 2000's. What use to be miles of farmland is now all boring ticky tacky suburban houses.

[Urbannizer]

Law firm, financial firm take 165,000 square feet at The Republic

There’s been optimism in the air about Austin’s office market, and two big new downtown Austin leases may bolster those feelings of hope that an office recovery is incoming.

Law firm Jackson Walker LLP and financial firm Virtu Financial Inc. have each signed leases totaling 165,000 square feet at downtown Austin’s The Republic office building, according to an announcement. The two leases bring the tower, which was 53% leased when it was completed in October 2025, to 73% leased.

Jackson Walker’s lease at the high-rise is about 110,000 square feet, spread across three floors in the building’s mid-rise portion. The firm is currently housed in an older tower at Cesar Chavez and Congress Avenue, 100 Congress. That building was 69% leased at last look.

It's not clear when the firm's lease at 100 Congress will terminate. The Transwestern team in charge of leasing at 100 Congress also did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Virtu’s lease at The Republic is about 55,000 square feet, and the company will occupy the two remaining floors in the high-rise portion of the tower. Virtu, a multinational company, also has an Austin office already at 2530 Walsh Tarlton Lane, beside Barton Creek Square mall.

Bakery Sugar Wolf is a ground floor retail tenant at The Republic, and a new restaurant tenant will be announced soon.