AUSTIN | Project Updates Thread Part II - Page 136

wwmiv · #**2701** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 12:15 AM**

That actually makes me feel like this one or something like it is pretty likely.

KevinFromTexas · #**2702** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 12:58 AM**

It looks like 43 floors judging from the rendering on the bottom. It looks like the top 13 floors are residential.

Most office floors these days are around 14 feet floor-to-floor. So that would come out to 420 feet. Most condo floor-to-floor heights are 11 to 16 feet, with the high end being the penthouse floors. The Austonian's floors are 11 to 12 feet. They actually alternate from floor to floor. The top 13 floors are residential, which I'm guessing is condos. That should add 156 feet. Then I would add 12 feet for the ground floor and penthouse levels. So that would be 588 feet total without considering the crown. The crown looks like it's about 30 feet tall. So that would bring it to 618 feet. Still, from the rendering it looks taller than that. I was guessing at least 650 and more like 670 feet judging from the other buildings. One American Center is 401 feet. 300 West Sixth is 336 feet, and the Chase Bank Tower is 330 feet, and it easily appears to be double their height.

GoldenBoot · #**2703** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 1:57 AM**

This looks to be between 45 and 50 stories (more like 47). It's hard to tell how many actual levels there are at the lowest levels of the tower. In any case, this is an impressive building.

I agree with Kevin that this tower seems to be pushing the 700' mark (especially when including the crown - which seems to be at least the equivalent of 3-4 additional "levels."

KevinFromTexas · #**2704** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 3:06 AM**

I updated my estimate to 588 feet before the crown and 618 feet with it based on floor heights of other office and condo towers, but I still think it is taller than that judging from the rendering.

I wish that top rendering had all the floors lit up better in the middle of the tower so you can see them more clearly.

AustinGoesVertical · #**2705** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 7:11 PM**

I love this design. The curvature really does it for me. Does it concern anyone that Nelsen Partners has primarily done mid-rises. Do they have the capacity to truly deliver a project of this scale?

the Genral · #**2706** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

I love this design. The curvature really does it for me. Does it concern anyone that Nelsen Partners has primarily done mid-rises. Do they have the capacity to truly deliver a project of this scale?

If I'm not mistaken, they designed Spring tower, one of my favorite towers dt, so I'm not concerned.

GoldenBoot · #**2707** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

If I'm not mistaken, they designed Spring tower, one of my favorite towers dt, so I'm not concerned.

No. That was Rafii Architects out of Vancouver Canada who was the lead designer of Spring.

Nelson Partners have not done too many high-rises. Here in Austin, for example, they have designed much of The Domain.

GoldenBoot · #**2708** Posted **Jan 5, 2016, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Does it concern anyone that Nelsen Partners has primarily done mid-rises. Do they have the capacity to truly deliver a project of this scale?

No. Nelsen Partners is an architectural & design firm. They are not developers. Whoever has commissioned Nelsen to design this tower has the burden to bring it to fruition - if chosen by the UT System.

Tech House · #**2709** Posted **Jan 6, 2016, 3:14 AM**

This design is awesome, and this news is a great way to start 2016.

One aspect of the design leads me to blunt my enthusiasm with some judicious caution: That gorgeous vertical green element is extremely unlikely to happen, so I'm kind of pretending it isn't there. The building is great with or without it, fortunately, so I won't sob too much when it gets axed from future renderings.

urbancore · #**2710** Posted **Jan 6, 2016, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It looks like 43 floors judging from the rendering on the bottom. It looks like the top 13 floors are residential.

Most office floors these days are around 14 feet floor-to-floor. So that would come out to 420 feet. Most condo floor-to-floor heights are 11 to 16 feet, with the high end being the penthouse floors. The Austonian's floors are 11 to 12 feet. They actually alternate from floor to floor. The top 13 floors are residential, which I'm guessing is condos. That should add 156 feet. Then I would add 12 feet for the ground floor and penthouse levels. So that would be 588 feet total without considering the crown. The crown looks like it's about 30 feet tall. So that would bring it to 618 feet. Still, from the rendering it looks taller than that. I was guessing at least 650 and more like 670 feet judging from the other buildings. One American Center is 401 feet. 300 West Sixth is 336 feet, and the Chase Bank Tower is 330 feet, and it easily appears to be double their height.

I'm surprised that the residential top 13 floors don't show any balconies. Maybe they are on the other side of the building in this rendering.....or maybe they are the bottom floors. It looks like those might be balconies. I think it would be unwise to build a building without them. What are your thoughts?

drummer · #**2711** Posted **Jan 6, 2016, 11:51 PM**

Not all residential towers everywhere have balconies, but in Austin (and Texas, much less most relatively recent developments around the U.S. that I've noticed), balconies are the norm.

urbancore · #**2712** Posted **Jan 7, 2016, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Not all residential towers everywhere have balconies, but in Austin (and Texas, much less most relatively recent developments around the U.S. that I've noticed), balconies are the norm.

Ahhhh........ Captain Obvious, welcome. Since this is the "Austin" forum, I thought it was understood that I was speaking about residential towers in Austin. That one is on me.

To clarify my statement, my 20 years in residential RE in Austin tell me that ALL tower condo buyers in Austin WILL want a balcony/outdoor space, even if they rarely use them.

I'm sure many northern cities don't need/want/build or care for them.

KevinFromTexas · #**2713** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 12:48 AM**

Isn't it true, though, that most windows in high rises don't open, unless they are on a balcony? Even if I wasn't brave enough to sit out there or didn't care to, having that window open for some fresh air would be really nice. I know that every year I can't wait for the weather to get nice so that I can open the windows and air out the house.

drummer · #**2714** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 12:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

Ahhhh........ Captain Obvious, welcome. Since this is the "Austin" forum, I thought it was understood that I was speaking about residential towers in Austin. That one is on me.

To clarify my statement, my 20 years in residential RE in Austin tell me that ALL tower condo buyers in Austin WILL want a balcony/outdoor space, even if they rarely use them.

I'm sure many northern cities don't need/want/build or care for them.

Wow, no need to be a jerk, dude. I'm just joining the conversation, as you are. You expertise from your 20 years in residential RE is welcome on the forum just as much as any other person's personal opinion.

drummer · #**2715** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 1:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Isn't it true, though, that most windows in high rises don't open, unless they are on a balcony? Even if I wasn't brave enough to sit out there or didn't care to, having that window open for some fresh air would be really nice. I know that every year I can't wait for the weather to get nice so that I can open the windows and air out the house.

Yeah, fresh air is a luxury these days - especially in an area with nice weather for most of the year like Austin. I was in Beijing recently for work...I wanted to stay inside as much as I could. People are literally buying fresh air from Canada in canisters, haha.

the Genral · #**2716** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 1:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummer

Wow, no need to be a jerk, dude. I'm just joining the conversation, as you are. You expertise from your 20 years in residential RE is welcome on the forum just as much as any other person's personal opinion.

I was going to pretty much say the same thing drummer but you beat me to it. Now you have my captain obvious crown. Not sure how anyone can say ALL condo buyers WILL want a balcony, unless in someone's 20 years in RE they interviewed ALL the condo buyers out there.

KevinFromTexas · #**2717** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 8:39 AM**

http://kxan.com/2016/01/06/austin-explor...mar-beach/?cid=facebook_KXAN_Austin_News

Quote:

Austin exploring ways to improve park and traffic in Lamar Beach

By Sophia Beausoleil
Published: January 6, 2016, 7:14 pm Updated: January 6, 2016, 7:20 pm

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is exploring ways to bring more people to a park many have probably been to, but may not have known its name, Lamar Beach.

The park is 65.4 acres on the north side of Lady Bird Lake and just west of Lamar Boulevard.

People don’t really know about Lamar Beach, they don’t understand that it is a park,” said Charles Mabry, park development coordinator for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

Mabry said one of the ideas included moving Cesar Chavez Street to the north to create more park land. Another, to put Cesar Chavez underground between Lamar and MoPac.

drummer · #**2718** Posted **Jan 8, 2016, 9:40 AM**

We were talking about this somewhere else. It'll be interesting to see what develops over time.

urbancore · #**2719** Posted **Jan 11, 2016, 9:43 PM**

http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/71315350-story

frustrating

Novacek · #**2720** Posted **Jan 11, 2016, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/71315350-story

frustrating

"When the project was originally pitched there was an idea that Waller Creek would be transformed into a Riverwalk similar to what San Antonio and Oklahoma City have. That idea has literally gone down the drain."

Uh, that's completely false. It was never claimed to be that.

It was always presented as a series of parks along the creek.

https://www.wallercreek.org/vision/

https://www.austintexas.gov/department/waller-creek-1