[Austin] Monarch Updates - Page 8

AustinGuy · #**141** Posted **Apr 4, 2008, 9:38 PM**

These guys seem to be finishing out the interiors very slowly at Monarch. Does anyone know when they'll actually be ready for renters to move into?

I've seen the occasional rental ads on Craig's list, but the Monarch website doesn't have much info as to prices or move in dates.

TXLove · #**142** Posted **Apr 4, 2008, 10:17 PM**

Had a chance to see the lighting everyone is talking about last night. I'll try to describe as best as I can: The lighting is on the very top of the crown, 8 lights on each side that rotate colors (red,green,blue and purple)

JAM · #**143** Posted **Apr 5, 2008, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXLove

Had a chance to see the lighting everyone is talking about last night. I'll try to describe as best as I can: The lighting is on the very top of the crown, 8 lights on each side that rotate colors (red,green,blue and purple)

Good descripton - I think they are mounted on the bottom side of the crown at the farthest edge.

jsoto3 · #**144** Posted **Apr 5, 2008, 7:22 PM**

The LED "spots" are cast into the vertical edge of the "crown". The underside of the butterfly roof will also be washed in multicolor lighting from LED fixtures mounted on the building roof below.

Jdawgboy · #**145** Posted **Apr 5, 2008, 8:35 PM**

Yea I saw them lastnight for the first time and I actually think they are really cool. They do change into a multitude of colors rather rapidly and they are neat. Almost reminds me of like a spaceship with flashing dotted lights around the perimieter. I kinda wish they were a bit larger in size and maybe alittle bit brighter but I think it is awsome that we have a multi-colored lighted tower in downtown. I don't think Ive ever seen a building with lighting like that ever before. With the lights below on the main roof of the building on, I think it will be one of the most dramatic nighttime lit towers Austin has ever had.

KevinFromTexas · #**146** Posted **Apr 6, 2008, 4:10 AM**

San Antonio's old SBC Building in downtown has some funky LED blinky lights on the mechanical penthouse. That was the first time I had seen them, and it was at Christmas, so they may have been Christmas themed lights, though they were all different colors. They looked like what you guys are talking about with The Monarch. So have the lights on The Monarch been on every night?

JAM · #**147** Posted **Apr 6, 2008, 3:58 PM**

Drove by again last night. With the wife this time. Her keen sense of architechural beauty said to her they look like airport runway lights. She didn't like them. I should reiterate that she loves the building. I was surprised she didn't like the lights. Maybe she will like the final product when all of the lighting is installed.

Kevin - Lights have been on every night lately.

Jdawgboy · #**148** Posted **Apr 6, 2008, 7:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

San Antonio's old SBC Building in downtown has some funky LED blinky lights on the mechanical penthouse. That was the first time I had seen them, and it was at Christmas, so they may have been Christmas themed lights, though they were all different colors. They looked like what you guys are talking about with The Monarch. So have the lights on The Monarch been on every night?

I believe they only use those during christmas Ive never seen them on durring other times of the year. So far as Priller mentioned they have now been lit every night but I want to see the entire lighting now. Wonder how the overall affect will be. While I do like the lights I agree that if that is all they were going to do then it probably would look kinda weird. But as long as there is other lighting planned then it may turn out very striking.

greenbelt · #**149** Posted **Apr 7, 2008, 2:07 AM**

Looking forward to seeing the Monarch lights. What a great addition to the skyline and to think, there was a time when we all thought it wasn't going to get built. There she stands, color and all. Any word on what retail's planned there?

MichaelB · #**150** Posted **Apr 16, 2008, 4:54 AM**

OK...finally noticed the lights tonight. My first thought was....."That's it? What a waste". Then we started thinking. Is what we are seeing a version of the lights that are required by the FAA on taller buildings? So that brings up a few questions:

What is the height requirement for the red lights we see on the taller buildings reguardless of other lighting? EX: As bright as Frost Bank in, there are still 4 red lights on the top.

Second: Is red the only color allowed? Or does having red in the rotation qualify?

Could this be what these lights are? ('Cause, quite frankly they do not create much of an effect otherwise!)

Anybody know or want to venture a guess?

jowens · #**151** Posted **Apr 16, 2008, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Could this be what these lights are? ('Cause, quite frankly they do not create much of an effect otherwise!)

Anybody know or want to venture a guess?

I agree the lighting is very understated. However, with the changing colors effect if it was any brighter or seen from a distance, it possibly would look "tacky" IMO.

I would like to see LED lighting much brighter if it stayed in one color.

ATXboom · #**152** Posted **Apr 16, 2008, 4:21 PM**

Would love to see some flood lighting on the underside of the "monarch wings"... building is made for this... maybe takes up too much energy??

Talon · #**153** Posted **Apr 16, 2008, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

So that brings up a few questions:

What is the height requirement for the red lights we see on the taller buildings reguardless of other lighting? EX: As bright as Frost Bank in, there are still 4 red lights on the top.

Second: Is red the only color allowed? Or does having red in the rotation qualify?

Could this be what these lights are? ('Cause, quite frankly they do not create much of an effect otherwise!)

Anybody know or want to venture a guess?

I don't know the answers but I found the related FAA document that regulates lighting/marking requirements for structures. Java session prevents me from directly posting link but if you go to faa.gov and go to Advisory Circulars section you can search for AC70_7460_1K (Obstruction Marking and Lighting).

From what I can discern if a building is 500 feet above ground level or less than it is required to have steady/flashing red lights for night and medium intensity flashing white lights for day/twighlight. If builder chooses to use high intensity flashing white light this can be substituted for other marking requirements. These are not required for structures less than 150 feet. Once you get above 500 feet you also have to add orange/white paint onto structure?

Exact colors, beam intensity, and flash rates for the lights are specified by AC 150/5345-43F (Specification for Obstruction Lighting Equipment). White and Red are only options and they are very specific about what color white and red qualifies.

MichaelB · #**154** Posted **Apr 16, 2008, 7:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talon

I don't know the answers but I found the related FAA document that regulates lighting/marking requirements for structures. Java session prevents me from directly posting link but if you go to faa.gov and go to Advisory Circulars section you can search for AC70_7460_1K (Obstruction Marking and Lighting).

From what I can discern if a building is 500 feet above ground level or less than it is required to have steady/flashing red lights for night and medium intensity flashing white lights for day/twighlight. If builder chooses to use high intensity flashing white light this can be substituted for other marking requirements. These are not required for structures less than 150 feet. Once you get above 500 feet you also have to add orange/white paint onto structure?

Exact colors, beam intensity, and flash rates for the lights are specified by AC 150/5345-43F (Specification for Obstruction Lighting Equipment). White and Red are only options and they are very specific about what color white and red qualifies.

Thanks for the info. So it looks like those are decorative. I agree with others that a general lighing under the wings would take the most advantage of the architecture. Wonder what impact that would have on the penthouses?

The lights that are up there are just too small and too sparse. I agree that more could not look great.... just don't think this effort is working. Lets see if it evolves!

jsoto3 · #**155** Posted **Apr 20, 2008, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATXboom

Would love to see some flood lighting on the underside of the "monarch wings"... building is made for this... maybe takes up too much energy??

See my post #144 above.

Jdawgboy · #**156** Posted **Apr 20, 2008, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsoto3

See my post #144 above.

Do you know when they are supposed to light the lower portion?

KevinFromTexas · #**157** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 7:38 AM**

Ok, so I finally got these edited. Photos are from 4/16 and 4/19.

I like it. I think it's a very elegant way to light this building. I just wish the lights were a little bit brighter. But I love the idea. As jsoto said, the building's crown will also be bathed in flood lighting from the roof. The lights will shine upwards onto the bottom of the crown.

Jdawgboy · #**158** Posted **Apr 21, 2008, 11:45 PM**

Yea I agree definatly elegant. I also wish they were brighter I mean you can barely even tell that the Monarch has lights from I-35. Im sure once they finish the rest of the lighting it will be more visible from far away.

JAM · #**159** Posted **Apr 30, 2008, 10:27 PM**

Excellent photo's Kevin, you're photo settings make it look like a toy. Really cool. Here's a few I've snapped over the last few days.

MichaelB · #**160** Posted **Apr 30, 2008, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Excellent photo's Kevin, you're photo settings make it look like a toy. Really cool. Here's a few I've snapped over the last few days.

Were you downtown shooting today? Two cameras?