AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete

[drummer]

They could grow vines up the mesh and we could finally see a green roof way up in the sky.

[78701]

Originally Posted by austlar1

This building simply fails to get the job done. I get annoyed every time I look at it. They spent so much money trying to create something really different, but in the end they just called it a day and put that ugly mesh up around the mechanical core. It looks terrible from every angle. The developers should be ashamed.

I don't have a problem with the mesh, I think it actually looks good: it sufficiently hides the mechanical floors to take the edge off, and it's kind of cool how its apparent transparency changes with light and viewing angle. It's that they skipped the top row, leaving empty stakes poking into the sky, that is really bothersome.

One more thing: the folks on this board are so used to over-analyze building appearances (myself included) that we tend to loose sight of the forest for a broken branch. I bet an average person looking at the building doesn't notice the empty top row on the crown, and/or doesn't think much of it.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by 78701

I don't have a problem with the mesh, I think it actually looks good: it sufficiently hides the mechanical floors to take the edge off, and it's kind of cool how its apparent transparency changes with light and viewing angle. It's that they skipped the top row, leaving empty stakes poking into the sky, that is really bothersome.

One more thing: the folks on this board are so used to over-analyze building appearances (myself included) that we tend to loose sight of the forest for a broken branch. I bet an average person looking at the building doesn't notice the empty top row on the crown, and/or doesn't think much of it.

Yeah, we're certainly guilty of that. I think a lot of us can't unsee it once we've seen it. That said, I am still pleased with the Independent overall. Not perfect, but still pretty sweet and it does impact the skyline in good ways.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by drummer

Yeah, we're certainly guilty of that.

Hey! Not me. I don't believe in nit picking our buildings apart. Btw, that crown reminds me of the paper crowns you can get at Burger King. The best thing about it is that its over 600 feet up and away.

[drummer]

Yeah, Genral, you've always been supportive of buildings that don't necessarily fit your architectural and/or design tastes. When 801 Barton Springs was happening, I recall you simply saying, "Well, not my preference in design, but I'm glad something is happening there. Kudos to the developers and go Austin for getting another building in!" Always upbeat and positive.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by drummer

Yeah, Genral, you've always been supportive of buildings that don't necessarily fit your architectural and/or design tastes. When 801 Barton Springs was happening, I recall you simply saying, "Well, not my preference in design, but I'm glad something is happening there. Kudos to the developers and go Austin for getting another building in!" Always upbeat and positive.

I applaud your complete and accurate recollection of my posts of yesteryear. You have an amazing memory. Total recall.

[Urbannizer]

The Independent by Darius Fontenette, on Flickr

[sammyk]

Not terribad from that angle.

[KevinFromTexas]

This building looks different from different angles. There are times when it looks bulky and shapeless and even dull, and other times it really pops.

I noticed the view above on Sunday. I was across the street on Cesar Chavez taking in the view from over there. If you happen to be along there, check it out. The GreenWater cluster is really impressive there along with the library, Seaholm and The Independent. I cannot wait to see how Block 185 adds to that view. There's already an interesting mix of materials there, concrete, limestone, glass, and metal. I'm wondering what the color of the glass on Block 185 will be.

[ATXboom]

The screen on top really bothers me. It competes with the juxtaposed blocks and looks like a massive (in terms of proportion) after thought.

Woulda been so much better had they just continued the curtain wall up to hide the mechanics on top.

[We vs us]

Who called this the bread drawer?

[Azul]

I attended a luncheon over this project and heard many interesting tidbits on the design and engineering process needed to take this building from drawings to reality. A few things I thought the people of this forum would find interesting:

• There's no exposed vents or ducts throughout the whole building, they utilized a product called Eccoducts that are embedded into the concrete slab between floors. This gives the condo interiors clean concrete ceiling and floor slabs with no openings.
• Apparently the floor count is really 63, there's several "secret" floors that are used for MEP and the damper/fire tank on top.
• The fire tank is constructed from fiberglass to prevent leakages like the Austonian has begun to experience, and on top of that they will utilize it to act as a tuned mass damper for further internal comfort from possible sway from large wind storms. To tune this, the building will have to finish construction and then they'll go back on top of the building to manually tune it so the final frequency of the structure as is. My guess is if they do anything to the MEP screen that it'll occur after they have to come in and tune this water tank.

[eskimo33]

I am not sure that I have seen this many feeling towards the crown of a building since the Fairmont Spire...

[78701]

Originally Posted by Azul

[*]There's no exposed vents or ducts throughout the whole building, they utilized a product called Eccoducts that are embedded into the concrete slab between floors. This gives the condo interiors clean concrete ceiling and floor slabs with no openings.[/LIST]

Here's the information on this Eccoduct thing.

[austlar1]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Who called this the bread drawer?

I'm the guilty party.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Azul

I attended a luncheon over this project and heard many interesting tidbits on the design and engineering process needed to take this building from drawings to reality. A few things I thought the people of this forum would find interesting:

• There's no exposed vents or ducts throughout the whole building, they utilized a product called Eccoducts that are embedded into the concrete slab between floors. This gives the condo interiors clean concrete ceiling and floor slabs with no openings.
• Apparently the floor count is really 63, there's several "secret" floors that are used for MEP and the damper/fire tank on top.
• The fire tank is constructed from fiberglass to prevent leakages like the Austonian has begun to experience, and on top of that they will utilize it to act as a tuned mass damper for further internal comfort from possible sway from large wind storms. To tune this, the building will have to finish construction and then they'll go back on top of the building to manually tune it so the final frequency of the structure as is. My guess is if they do anything to the MEP screen that it'll occur after they have to come in and tune this water tank.

The building elevations show the building having 62 floors. That includes the mechanical levels in the crown plus the tank. There is no floor 63 listed in the plans. I've noticed lately in the building industry that the rooftop level has started to be considered/called a floor, which I disagree with. If it's not an enclosed space, then I wouldn't really call it a floor. Typically, mechanical levels aren't included in the overall height of a building since they never market those levels. The only time that mechanical levels are included in the floor count is when they're somewhere in the middle of the building. Up until now, however, Austin simply hasn't had any buildings tall enough that had mechanical floors midway up. 6 X Guadalupe was a notable first.

[Meagan0803]

Miami is getting a 1000' + version of the Independent.

https://www.miami1.com/waldorf-astoria-is-coming-to-downtown-miami/

[Meagan0803]

https://www.miami1.com/waldorf-astoria-is-coming-to-downtown-miami/

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by Meagan0803

Miami is getting a 1000' + version of the Independent.

https://www.miami1.com/waldorf-astoria-is-coming-to-downtown-miami/

Very similar. Not missing the crown for sure. Nice to see you again Meagan.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Meagan0803

Miami is getting a 1000' + version of the Independent.

https://www.miami1.com/waldorf-astoria-is-coming-to-downtown-miami/

That Miami tower really looks nice. It even looks like a more mis-stacked blocks tower.