AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[KevinFromTexas]

Great pictures.

[zx14]

The w is up to floor 11. Which is the number of 105 degree or hotter days so far this summer. Like to find out if the record for that stat is being challenged.

[OU812]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Nice. I wanted to go out for photos this weekend, but man, the heat is too much.

The heat is doing wonders for my lawn though. Haven't had to mow in, what, a couple of months now...Something like that.. I mean it's all brown, but o well, brown grass isn't necessarily ugly to me.

On another (off topic) note: I think the serious lack of rain might be screwing up my foundation- I'm starting to notice various cracks here and there. Anyone else having foundation issues, possibly as a result of this brutal drought? I know I'm supposed to use a soaker hose in times like this, but I travel so much I'm hardly around. Although lately I'm starting to -because of the mysterious new cracks.

[OU812]

Originally Posted by Dan Denson

I love El Nino. It could rain half the days of the year and it wouldn't bother me. I love those winter days during El Nino when the outside temperature is about 40 degrees and there's a slow rain falling through fog that is so thick that it sometimes closes the airport. What a contrast to this summer weather!

Yeah, I'm hoping someday I can afford a 2nd home in Seattle...i love the weather in the pacific northwest..

[migol24]

austin is looking better everyday... and to think that this is only the first phase of the building boom. hopefully in 5 years from now we will have had the t. stacy and trammel crowe project along with 21c finishing off our skyline. not to mention ovation and 7rio... any recent news from these projects?

[Mopacs]

Thanks for posting those pics Mdlx. I haven't seen the Barton Creek view in at least 1-2 months, so this is very impressive.

I drove around South Austin quite a bit on Friday afternoon. Even went down to Buda and took 35 north into downtown. It's amazing how frequent the Austonian pops up throughout that 15 mile trek.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

It looks like I went to a lot of my cousins houses with parties. Playing Mao for days!

So it's time that I get to the postbag!

Originally Posted by Nickelplate

Went down to Barton Creek mall for the first time in many years to do some shopping. My girlfriend and I stopped in the parking lot with the good downtown view and we were both amazed!! Years ago we used to go sit there before they put that bench there and talk while watching the lights downtown. I wish the view was as good back then!!!

If anyone has noticed, there are big windows in the top floor of Dillard in the Barton Creek mall. In one of them, there's a good skyline view. If someone wants to check out the skyline from the mall, check that place out.

Originally Posted by austex

Thanks Mopacs....friggin amazing is right. The pics and braving this heat. I am really getting excited about the impact the W will have now. From all angles. Thanks again Mopacs!

Mopacs has been doing a wonderful job in updates lately. Keep it up! The crown on Austonian will be a great crown to this skyline. Frost and Austonian together might look like royality at night...both with fantastic architecture and prominent, lighted crowns.

The crowns are going to be fantastic. And austex, you're so correct about they look like royalty.

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

They're raising the crane today for The Austonian. They've already put in one piece. Sweet views from the east side. I really need to get over there and take some pics.

Try checking out where the crane is now visible from. Will look sweet!

Also, has anyone checked out the view from South Lamar as it turns near Bluebonnet? The Austonian, Ashton and 100 Congress all three line up in that view and create a sort of stair shaped formation. When there's a silhouette of the buildings, it looks like one huge building with huge setbacks. Seriously, it's hardly recognizable as anything in Austin.

The huge setback building of Austin to some minds.

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Here are some skyline shots taken from E Riverside and Ben White in SE Austin... Friday 7/24. This is one of the better vantage points for viewing the entire skyline, from south of the river up toward Concordia/St Davids. Even the mid-rises at 35 at 290E are visible.

You have taken pictures from the location I asked Kevin to take. And Waffle House?

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

You know that line in Animal House where Bluto reacts to the horse falling down dead after the gunshot? Um, yeah. Sweet view, good lord that's some bulk. There's your Waffle House view, AustinSkyscrapers!

You remembered! Check out that cluster of buildings along the river. It seems so amazing. If 21C ever gets built, it will add explosively to the 'clust.

The Legacy and Spring seem kinda alone...
Those wires!!!

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

Took some pics of the Austonian after they raised the crane, I had hoped to get them in progress but they must have gotten there early today and finished up. So here are some random pics of the Austionian, W and downtown.

Austonian




W Hotel and Residences








So many new buildings




It was SO hot I wanted to jump in to the fountain.

Thanks for those who braved the heat.

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Nice. I wanted to go out for photos this weekend, but man, the heat is too much.

I think I can beat the heat. Just some fruit juice and Powerade/Gatorade.

Originally Posted by Mdlx

Seriously, what a transformation. It looks fantastic.


From Barton Creek


And from Shepherd Mountain

Truly amazing!!!!

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Great pictures.

Correct again Kevin...

Originally Posted by zx14

The w is up to floor 11. Which is the number of 105 degree or hotter days so far this summer. Like to find out if the record for that stat is being challenged.

That record is unbelievable.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by OU812

The heat is doing wonders for my lawn though. Haven't had to mow in, what, a couple of months now...Something like that.. I mean it's all brown, but o well, brown grass isn't necessarily ugly to me.

I think I've watered our's maybe three times this whole year. Oddly enough, it's still looking nice and green. I try to time my watering between the times when we get rain, and I only do it when it really looks like it needs it. I haven't mowed it either since about early April. It's getting pretty tall, but when you're in a drought like this with little rain, it's best to cut your grass on the highest setting so that it doesn't burn the roots. Even better than that is to not mow at all. It's not as attractive as it being nice and trimmed, but at least it's not brown and dead. Plus, it requires less water that way since the taller grass prevents water evaporation from the soil.

Originally Posted by AustinSkyscrapers

You remembered! Check out that cluster of buildings along the river. It seems so amazing. If 21C ever gets built, it will add explosively to the 'clust.

Heh, along with 21C adding to that cluster, there's also all the towers that would be to the left of it in the Seaholm and Green development. Seriously, there's going to be a wall of towers from this angle. And then if the Rainey Street area fills in with some more towers around Legacy & The Shore, there will be more density further to the left. Once you imagine what it might look like, it's pretty incredible. I still don't think our skyline would match Houston or Dallas' at that time, at least not for height, but we would comfortably be in 3rd place, which isn't bad when you consider how big Houston and Dallas' skylines are. No competition of course, just shocking to this Austinite who always assumed we'd be dead last in the skyline department for major cities in Texas (minus El Paso).

[AustinSkyscrapers]

With the wall of buidlings, we could use the term "Great Wall of Austin". Keep Austin Weird.

[AusTex]

http://www.infocustech.com/iftstore/products.asp?cat=23

This can be yours...it is for sale on the link provided. It is a pewter (no lead) casting. Perhaps this company will cast the Austonian when it is finished.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Thanks for the on sale Frost Bank!

[TimCity2000]

OK... which one of you was in the Apple Store in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night (7/25)?

Seriously, I walked into the store after dinner with some friends. I decide to take a look at the macbooks, so I go up to a random one on display, place my fingers on the touchpad and what should appear before my eyes but skyscraperpage.com! Not only that, but it was on this very thread! Or at least, it was on some thread concerning Austin projects.

Unfortunately, the person had either logged out or was just browsing as a guest

We may never know....

[Scottolini]

That's awesome. I know we do have a member who's from Alabama and is going to school at Texas State University in San Marcos. I wonder...

[MichaelB]

I love that! Just can't hide anywhere these days!!!!!

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

OK... which one of you was in the Apple Store in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night (7/25)?

Seriously, I walked into the store after dinner with some friends. I decide to take a look at the macbooks, so I go up to a random one on display, place my fingers on the touchpad and what should appear before my eyes but skyscraperpage.com! Not only that, but it was on this very thread! Or at least, it was on some thread concerning Austin projects.

Unfortunately, the person had either logged out or was just browsing as a guest

We may never know....

That's funny. Well you have to make sure skyscraperpage looks good on the thing before buying.

[KevinFromTexas]

I wonder if that was him DruidCity. He's going to school at Texas State in San Marcos. He's from Tuscaloosa though. He also lists Baldwin County in his sigline.

[Strayone]

Someone Trolling our thread from afar...Vehdi Inderestiing! I recall years ago going to Barton Cr. Mall and thinking how nice the view was, I haven't been there in years and can tell from those pictures it is much changed. Good stuff as usual, the Big A or Pez (it will look like a huge Pez when finished) as I like to call it is mind blowing...the crown should be a beacon seen from Georgetown to Near San Marcos.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Umm, can anyone take a picture of the Four Seasons Private Residences? I'm going to need it for the AustinDownTownConstructionUpdate. Oh well I will do it now.

The Austonian: The crane has jumped recently to 736". Construction continues on the 55th floor with glass installment on the 46th floor.
W Austin Hotel and Residences: Working on the 10th floor; construction buff seems to slow down.
Spring: Topped out; Now Leasing; Lobby Work
The Ashton: Heated debate; SkyscraperPage lists it as "completed", Emporis lists it as "topped out".

[futuresooner]

Originally Posted by OU812

The heat is doing wonders for my lawn though. Haven't had to mow in, what, a couple of months now...Something like that.. I mean it's all brown, but o well, brown grass isn't necessarily ugly to me.

On another (off topic) note: I think the serious lack of rain might be screwing up my foundation- I'm starting to notice various cracks here and there. Anyone else having foundation issues, possibly as a result of this brutal drought? I know I'm supposed to use a soaker hose in times like this, but I travel so much I'm hardly around. Although lately I'm starting to -because of the mysterious new cracks.

To respond to your OT question. This very well may be attributed to the drought. The ground is settling further w/o any real moisture left and is causing power poles to settle and lines snap in a few cases. A fire in Spicewood was caused by such an event. If you all do not get an appreciable amount of rainfall soon, the region may be in some serious shit to say the least. Just fyi, I'm a meteorologist, granted, in Florida. Thought I'd help out. I do find it funny that, what 2 or 3 years ago, the dam near Mineral Falls was almost topped, or something like that. Now, ya'll can't even buy a drop. The only solution appears to be a tropical system right now that stalls over the region.

[zx14]

I have a theory on the drought and why its happening. The tall buildings being constructed are blocking the normal southeast wind flow. Moving the flow to a more southerly direction. Letting the high pressure of summer drift east into central texas and pushing the normal coastal plain wet pattern to Louisiana. We are doomed. just kidding. However expect the hottest temps around 108 or so this weekend or late this week. This summer may not have the hottest temp as in 2000 but it will be remembered with the likes of 1954. Completion of the 55th floor will be delayed so the workers can finish and fill the swimming pool. They deserve a cool dip.