AUSTIN | The Austonian | 683 FT / 208 M | 56 FLOORS | T/O - Page 23

AustinSkyscrapers · #**441** Posted **Jul 20, 2009, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopacs

As posted in the city compilation thread, here's a comparison of the skyline over 7 years (2002 to 2009). All but one of this decade's high-rises are not present in the originals. The shots are a bit distant, but will give you a good perspective of the changes.

Gaines Ranch overpass:

2002

2009

Shepherd Mountain

2002

2009

Gee it's shcoking to see what this boom has done to Austin. Just pure amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottolini

No way California cities can be considered Southern.

Really no way.

Scottolini · #**442** Posted **Jul 20, 2009, 7:13 PM**

Mobile does not have a skyline near as impressive as Austin. Their tallest is 35 floors and 745 feet tall. Undoubtedly an impressive building, although that height does include a substantial spire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_Battle_House_Tower

But what about the skyline as a whole? It doesn't compare to Austin.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PbKAjPr66Sk/R2...%2B02%2BMobile%2BUSS%2BAlabama%2B028.jpg

Scottolini · #**443** Posted **Jul 20, 2009, 7:15 PM**

I do love their tallest, though. It's a very impressive tower.

KevinFromTexas · #**444** Posted **Jul 21, 2009, 3:31 AM**

I was going back and forth between Mississippi and Florida back in 2004 working in Florida after Hurricane Ivan, and saw Mobile twice a day for 2 weeks. No way is their skyline bigger than Austin's, or even comparable, not even now. They do have a neat skyline though. I absolutely loved the view of the skyline from across Mobile Bay. It was always a nice soothing sight after a long day. Of course that was before RSA Tower (their tallest) was built. It was still under construction, and up to about the 10th floor though. It's actually technically the tallest building I've ever seen under construction. New Orleans' skyline is very impressive.

SLO · #**445** Posted **Jul 23, 2009, 5:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookem

Something I don't understand is why the state-wide significance of the Austonian isn't mentioned more. I know the "tallest residential building in the West" is claimed by the builders, and the tallest residential in Texas/tallest tower outside of Houston and Dallas facts are on emporis. But what seems more amazing to me (please correct if I am wrong):

* When complete, the Austonian will be the tallest building built in Texas since 1987
* Currently, The Austonian is the tallest building under construction in Texas since 1987
* Currently, the Austonian has the only 50th - 53rd floors in Texas since 1987

Think about it... when you walk out onto a floor labeled "51" anywhere in Texas, it will either be the Austonian or a building at least 22 years old! And 1987, when the last building of this height or higher was built in our state, was during the oil boom. What was going on at the time?

* The TV show Dallas was still on the air
* Reagan was president
* The Soviet Union still existed
* The Berlin Wall still existed
* The web and internet didn't exist (well, technically it was in universities & govt... but effectively it did not exist)

....so, is the Austonian the most significant building built in Texas since the oil boom?

Id guess because it is a residential tower.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**446** Posted **Jul 23, 2009, 11:32 PM**

The Austonian has come up to over 600"! Time to celebrate!

WAustinResident · #**447** Posted **Jul 24, 2009, 1:09 AM**

the gym there is going to have killer views. enough motivation to work out right there.

KevinFromTexas · #**448** Posted **Jul 26, 2009, 5:59 PM**

So they're raising the crane today. Shanny had used a range finder a while back and measured the crane at 676 feet. There are 3 new sections going up today. Each section is 20 feet tall, so the crane should top out at 736 feet tall. Supposedly one height for the antenna atop the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio states that it's 728 feet tall, if that's right, then the crane for The Austonian will be 8 feet higher than that, and the roof of the building will be 61 feet higher than the roof of the Tower of the Americas. Amazing. I never thought I'd see the day where Austin would eclipse anything else in Texas.

Anyway, I just saw the building about a half hour ago, and they've already put in one piece. Sweet views from the east side. I really need to get over there and take some pics.

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.

AustinSkyscrapers · #**449** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 2:55 PM**

/\/\/\ I also never thought I'd see the day...

KevinFromTexas · #**450** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 5:02 PM**

From the Ben White flyover at I-35.

7/27

AustinSkyscrapers · #**451** Posted **Jul 31, 2009, 5:33 PM**

This Austonian thread isn't as active as before. Anyone know why?

G Lee · #**452** Posted **Aug 1, 2009, 7:00 PM**

That happens sometimes with single topic threads. The topic ends up being well covered in the general threads. I check it every day but i'm mostly a lurker.

Vicelord John · #**453** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 9:47 PM**

amazing looking building.

I'm curious why when I look at cities all over the country, everyone has concrete roads....

all of ours are covered in rubberized asphalt and not only does it look 100 times better, it really cuts down on noise and doesn't ever crack so the ride is much much smoother.

KevinFromTexas · #**454** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 10:03 PM**

7/27

8/2

23 blocks north of the building.

KevinFromTexas · #**455** Posted **Aug 5, 2009, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicelord John

amazing looking building.

I'm curious why when I look at cities all over the country, everyone has concrete roads....

all of ours are covered in rubberized asphalt and not only does it look 100 times better, it really cuts down on noise and doesn't ever crack so the ride is much much smoother.

Concrete is cheap here. There's several large quarries between Austin and San Antonio. Most of our newer highway pavings have been done with concrete. Not to mention, every new highrise for at least the last 30 years have been built of concrete frames.

Dan Denson · #**456** Posted **Aug 6, 2009, 2:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Concrete is cheap here. There's several large quarries between Austin and San Antonio. Most of our newer highway pavings have been done with concrete. Not to mention, every new highrise for at least the last 30 years have been built of concrete frames.

Hmmm...I thought most of the roads in Austin were asphalt.