AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II

[hookem]

Originally Posted by OU812

LOL @ the austin city hall images. the upper sheet metal facade just looks like dirty old rust and that ominous spike is rather disturbing but i guess it's all supposed to be "art" (and part of our weirdness eh?). i like most of austin's architecture, but the city hall and long center is just fugly (not the entire long center bldg just mainly the old recycled palmer auditorium turtle green/brown pieces- always reminds me of seat cushion stuffing).

I agree about the "turtle green", it's just not the same when it isn't attached to a real piece of mid-century architecture like the old Palmer Auditorium.

But the city hall cladding, that's looking great. The "patina" is really developing just like it should. It's gonna be great to watch it continue to develop over the years. Very Austin-like. The spikes, huge rocks/boulders and waterfalls are also really nice when you are actually there.

To me, the only problem with the City Hall is the height incompatibility with new buildings... it fit with it's CSC neighbors, but not so much with the new stuff. Luckily, the W looks almost like an extension of it (thanks to the darker cladding)... so maybe when the CSC buildings are replaced it will still look OK.

And thanks for the great pics Kevin!

[wwmiv]

I don't think the CSC buildings are ever going to be replaced... Besides, I like them.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I don't think the CSC buildings are ever going to be replaced... Besides, I like them.

I don't necessarily dislike them, but...

The CSC buildings would make nice, suburban office complexes if they were somewhere outside the city proper. But they aren't appropriate for downtown. They served their purpose when downtown was completely dead and revitalization had to start somewhere... but it is just a matter of time before they are redeveloped for better use of the land. They will most certainly be replaced.

[wwmiv]

I highly doubt they will be replaced within the next 30 years. There are so many other parcels of land (mainly empty) that would be much more attractive targets for private enterprise so that they could make a quick buck. Until downtown is built out they will most likely remain.

[mars-man]

Originally Posted by StoOgE

My guess is that is a site that would be ready for development sooner than the rest. How big of a departure is that block from the original proposal?

It's not a departure at all -- see project overview at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/seaholm/downloads/trammelcrow052208.pdf.

But it may just be the first project out of the Green gate. (On the other hand, the involvement of the Spring team doesn't exactly inspire confidence.)

Interestingly, this is also where the proposed "bicycle boulevard" bridge would cross Shoal Creek.

[jowens]

Originally Posted by photolitherland

Wow, the W looks massive in the skyline.

Totally agree; it really looks fat approaching Onion Creek on IH 35 north.

[StoOgE]

Originally Posted by OU812

LOL @ the austin city hall images. the upper sheet metal facade just looks like dirty old rust and that ominous spike is rather disturbing but i guess it's all supposed to be "art" (and part of our weirdness eh?). i like most of austin's architecture, but the city hall and long center is just fugly (not the entire long center bldg just mainly the old recycled palmer auditorium turtle green/brown pieces- always reminds me of seat cushion stuffing).

To each their own. Those are two of my favorite buildings in Austin.

[Dan Denson]

Kevin, I love that last photo of the Austonian and Ashton framed by the greenery.

[priller]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Priller.... LOVE those last two photos! WOuld make a great series. I'll take one of each. Framed, please!

Here are links to full-sized jpegs for those two photos, if you want to make your own prints.



Cupcake & sky




Lucy in Silhouette

[The ATX]

You can tell there's a pause in the high rise construction boom when giant cupcakes get this much attention.

[MichaelB]

Hey Folks the Symphony League is hosting their annual design showcase at the Austonian Sunday ( it was Saturday as well). $20. 11th floor is open with some of the units designed by local firms and a some empty. The pool level
"amenity" floor ( 10th ) is included.

[spw1965]

This morning I checked out the Austonian. I was excited to hear about the tour this weekend because I really wanted to see the overall fit and finish of the building for myself and compare it to what I've seen at The Four Seasons Residences. Now that I've been in both buildings I can conclude that they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Mind you they are both very upscale buildings so I'm talking about "relative" weaknesses! I've been in just about all of the other downtown condos and these two building are by far the most luxurious.

The Austonian's 10th floor amenities were very nice and much more extensive than that of the FSR. If you want to enjoy many hours of sun while lying by the pool you'll get it on that deck, much more so than atop the FSR, which has limited sun coverage. The media room was terrific. They were playing Avatar. The FSR doesn't have a media room. I was disappointed with some of the fit and finish of the deck area but that may be because they are not finished. Looking closely at the gaps between much of the stonework showed some sloppy work, but again they may not be finished.

The tour included the entire 11th floor with three of the units being totally furnished and three empty. Overall they were nice units but some of the room layouts seemed a bit odd. That's probably due to the oval shape of the building. All of them had high-end appliances and fine finishes on the counters and floors. The ceiling heights felt a little low to me in many of the rooms. In my opinion the FSR has nicer layouts and slighty better finishes. It helps that it is a rectangular building. The biggest advantage the FSR has over the Austonian is in the private outdoor living area. The terraces at the Austonian were tiny compared to The Four Season Residences and the floors were painted concrete versus porcelain tile at the FSR. Of course the Austonian makes up for that with the amenities deck so if you don't have to have a large private outdoor area with your unit there is no problem.

I can't wait to check out the W!

[KevinFromTexas]

I was downtown yesterday and took some zoomed in photos of the top of The Austonian. I noticed they have the fitness room furnished with machines facing outwards to take in the views.

I also noticed the changing colored lights on the crown. They're hardly noticeable from afar. Even up close it's pretty subtle because it's only a thin band of lights below the crescent lights. I also noticed more aircraft warning lights up there. There are 3 on each side of the mechanical penthouse. Also, the W has its aircraft warning lights installed.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by spw1965

This morning I checked out the Austonian. I was excited to hear about the tour this weekend because I really wanted to see the overall fit and finish of the building for myself and compare it to what I've seen at The Four Seasons Residences. Now that I've been in both buildings I can conclude that they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Mind you they are both very upscale buildings so I'm talking about "relative" weaknesses! I've been in just about all of the other downtown condos and these two building are by far the most luxurious.

The Austonian's 10th floor amenities were very nice and much more extensive than that of the FSR. If you want to enjoy many hours of sun while lying by the pool you'll get it on that deck, much more so than atop the FSR, which has limited sun coverage. The media room was terrific. They were playing Avatar. The FSR doesn't have a media room. I was disappointed with some of the fit and finish of the deck area but that may be because they are not finished. Looking closely at the gaps between much of the stonework showed some sloppy work, but again they may not be finished.

The tour included the entire 11th floor with three of the units being totally furnished and three empty. Overall they were nice units but some of the room layouts seemed a bit odd. That's probably due to the oval shape of the building. All of them had high-end appliances and fine finishes on the counters and floors. The ceiling heights felt a little low to me in many of the rooms. In my opinion the FSR has nicer layouts and slighty better finishes. It helps that it is a rectangular building. The biggest advantage the FSR has over the Austonian is in the private outdoor living area. The terraces at the Austonian were tiny compared to The Four Season Residences and the floors were painted concrete versus porcelain tile at the FSR. Of course the Austonian makes up for that with the amenities deck so if you don't have to have a large private outdoor area with your unit there is no problem.

I can't wait to check out the W!

Did the Austonian tour. Have not seen the Four Seasons. The biggest challenge to the Austonian to me is that the only places that would be worth buying, at least on the lower floors, would be the two on the east side. The best unit, to me, was the E unit. It was originally a 2 + studio that had been opened up to a 1 + "emergency guest room". Meaning you could close sliding panels to create privacy in what use to be the second bedroom. At almost 2000 sq ft it , with upgrades was around 980,000. Now here is the real problem: You could easily end up totally blocked in by adjoining buildings. There is an empty lot on the north and to the northwest. The west view is the Dell children's museum and old Scholtzsky's HQ,,, both of which will easily be replaced. AND NOT IN VIEW CORRIDORS!. So you could end up with absolutely no view...except of another highrise a few feet away.... all for $980,ooo. OOOOOPS !!!!!!!!! Having said that, the NE and SE units would be great. Seems like another plus for the Four Seasons would be the views: as in , less chance to be totally blocked off! Can't wait to see them !

[WAustinResident]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Did the Austonian tour. Have not seen the Four Seasons. The biggest challenge to the Austonian to me is that the only places that would be worth buying, at least on the lower floors, would be the two on the east side. The best unit, to me, was the E unit. It was originally a 2 + studio that had been opened up to a 1 + "emergency guest room". Meaning you could close sliding panels to create privacy in what use to be the second bedroom. At almost 2000 sq ft it , with upgrades was around 980,000. Now here is the real problem: You could easily end up totally blocked in by adjoining buildings. There is an empty lot on the north and to the northwest. The west view is the Dell children's museum and old Scholtzsky's HQ,,, both of which will easily be replaced. AND NOT IN VIEW CORRIDORS!. So you could end up with absolutely no view...except of another highrise a few feet away.... all for $980,ooo. OOOOOPS !!!!!!!!! Having said that, the NE and SE units would be great. Seems like another plus for the Four Seasons would be the views: as in , less chance to be totally blocked off! Can't wait to see them !

I agree with you on the lack of protected views. Four Seasons has lake views which will remain forever. W has views of the lake over city hall, and City Hall isn't going anywhere for a few decades, on the other side they have that government building that isn't going anywhere either.

[spw1965]

I've taken a fatalistic approach to the whole view debate. When I picked a unit at the FSR I went for the best that I could afford. It turns out that my future home faces north and has a "city" view. The way I now look at it, if someone decides to construct a new tower across from me it will just mean that I have more of a "city" view!

Here are two images I took a few months ago from the terrace:

[Jdawgboy]

That is a good point you made about the fact that if you want a city view, you get a city view with buildings next door. You would think that some of these people buying these condo's would take that into account. I wouldn't mind having a tower next door from my condo it might be kinda cool and as far as privacy goes, all you need are some thick curtains or blinds, during the day shouldn't be a problem. Now if its an office tower, there wouldn't be anybody in it late at night so privacy wouldn't really be an issue.

[ahealy]

Exactly. I look forward to having 2 towers (austin energy) pop up in front of my apartment. As long as it's good architecture, I have to problems..

[MichaelB]

re: views. I don't mind so much the buildings across the street. The problem with Austonian is that the building could be across the alley to the west and right up against the north side. That means the units on the lower floors on the West and NW would be completely closed in. I would never consider buying one of those!

[austin242]

Well at least the Base and Curved shape of the building will save their veiws a little bit