AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 300

KevinFromTexas · #**5981** Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 9:32 PM**

^Architecturally, "officially" they're the same height. Both buildings top out at 397 feet to their mechanical penthouse parapets which are their highest points. A parapet is just a fancy word for a barrier/wall. Basically, it's a safety wall on the roof between you and the ground or a long drop, such as to a setback or podium level. They can be 3 to 5 feet tall, typically they're about waist high. Without them, One Congress Plaza's mechanical penthouse roof is slightly taller.

B'ham Bound · #**5982** Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 9:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinDerm

WOW! THAT WAS ME! --- SERIOUSLY!!!

Long time lurker here but I decided to create an account just to respond to this post.

I just moved to Birmingham from Dallas. Will be here for a year (training at UAB) but will move to Austin in June 2010, so I have been following the Austin threads. I was at the Apple store to get my MacBook fixed.

Welcome to Birmingham dude. Stop by the Birmingham and Southeast threads some time. If you need anything (e.g. tips on some good watering holes, restaurant recommendations, whatever...) just let me (or one of the B'ham guys) know.

nixcity · #**5983** Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 11:35 PM**

In case you didn't know they have begun construction in earnest at the Mexican American Cultural Center. I love that project and if I remember right there will be 2 more phases somewhere down the line in the future.

tgbAustinite · #**5984** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 12:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixcity

In case you didn't know they have begun construction in earnest at the Mexican American Cultural Center. I love that project and if I remember right there will be 2 more phases somewhere down the line in the future.

any info or renderings?

austin242 · #**5985** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 1:21 AM**

Renders of Mex-Amer Center
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc/site.htm

AustinSkyscrapers · #**5986** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 1:39 AM**

This is kind of off topic but if you look at the sky right at this moment the sky is RED! Red I tell you. From our skies, the sky is a dark red. Check it out!

Mopacs · #**5987** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinSkyscrapers

This is kind of off topic but if you look at the sky right at this moment the sky is RED! Red I tell you. From our skies, the sky is a dark red. Check it out!

I wonder if it has anything to do with the huge chemical plant fire in Bryan?

nixcity · #**5988** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 2:54 AM**

Thanks for the renders austin242!!!The construction sign up says phase 1a, but it looks like it is just phase 2 unless there wasn't funding yet to the full phase 2 and just started part of it, does anyone here know?

AustinSkyscrapers · #**5989** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 3:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

I wonder if it has anything to do with the huge chemical plant fire in Bryan?

I'm not sure but for sure this redness in the sky was not usual.

the Genral · #**5990** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 3:24 AM**

If the developers of the Austonian decided there was enough of a demand, could they add more floors at this point , or is the structure engineered for only 56 floors?

hookem · #**5991** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 3:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

If the developers of the Austonian decided there was enough of a demand, could they add more floors at this point , or is the structure engineered for only 56 floors?

Hah! What a rumor that would make.. Austonian decides to add floors!

I've wondered, in general (no pun intended), how easy it is to add floors to buildings. I doubt the Austonian would do it, it's already got all kinds of height records, and I'm not hearing about overwhelming demand...

But I wonder about spires and stuff. Could the crown design be changed easily, adding height to a building (and the skyline!), or would it require extensive city approvals?

In my dream world, some developer would be able to detach the Frost crown, crane it up 100' or so, then build 6-7 more office floors underneath and plunk it back down!

Scottolini · #**5992** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

In my dream world, some developer would be able to detach the Frost crown, crane it up 100' or so, then build 6-7 more office floors underneath and plunk it back down!

I say shoot for the stars. They need to add 485' to make old Frosty an even 1000 footer, and reclaim it's rightful place as Austin's tallest.

KevinFromTexas · #**5993** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 4:09 AM**

I think the foundation could accommodate more floors. I remember seeing someone on the forum (he's an engineer), say that most buildings could add more floors as long as they allowed for mechanical stuff and a certain type of roof. One example of a high rise adding more floors, is the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower in Chicago. It was built in the 80s. The building originally had 32 floors and was about 450 feet tall I believe. They just finished adding 25 new floors to the top. It now has 57 floors and is 743 feet tall. By the way, the "new" roof matches the old one, which can be seen midway up the tower now.

Check out the construction thread here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=111764

KevinFromTexas · #**5994** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 5:23 AM**

Took the Ben White roller coaster the other day (7/27).

WonderlandPark · #**5995** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 5:30 AM**

Kevin, the Blue Cross tower was designed from the start to add 25 floors to. It was engineered and approved as such. I lived in Chicago in the mid-90s and followed the story, thinking that it was pretty darn unique to design a building that you could almost double in height and square footage. Most buildings are overengineered for safety, but there is no intention or provision for doubling or even adding a few more floors.

BSBS is one of the rarest examples of this case. There haven't been or will not likely be many more buildings of this sort designed and built.

As for the photo, wow, this view really shows how damn tall the tower is.

zx14 · #**5996** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 7:15 AM**

spring could do it but then it might be confused with one of the tv towers on the hill west of it. Or manute Bol the 7 foot 8 nba player of years past.

StoOgE · #**5997** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 12:07 PM**

Not *exactly* the same thing, but I know Wagner hall at UT has had a few stories added to it over the years.

TimCity2000 · #**5998** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 1:32 PM**

AustinDerm,

Welcome to the forum (and to Birmingham)! Whereabouts do you live?

When you get a chance, you should visit the Southeast section on this forum. There are a couple of Birmingham threads there that might interest you as well.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**5999** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 3:32 PM**

Thanks for the Austonian pic. Look how towering the Austonian is! And it's still not topped out!

Mopacs · #**6000** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Not *exactly* the same thing, but I know Wagner hall at UT has had a few stories added to it over the years.

Also, I recall a plan several years ago to add upwards of 9 floors to the 1-2 story Gracy Title building in downtown Austin. That proposal never materialized.