Austin | Block 185/Google Tower #2 | 594 Feet | 35 Floors | Complete - Page 11

lzppjb · #1 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 2:12 PM**

That rendering also shows a way they could have the loading dock area without taking away from the street interaction.

KevinFromTexas · #2 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 6:40 PM**

That looks nice. It's funny that he mentioned midcentury designs when thinking of how to plan for Third + Shoal. I hadn't thought of that, but the vertical lines and general boxiness of it with sharp edges make sense. I was reminded of the great old midcentury/international boxes the moment I saw that really tall plan for Block 185. That building looked like New York's Lever House and the United Nations Headquarters rolled into one. I would love to see something like that, and yes, keep the braces and make it black. That would look amazing.

Geckos_Rule · #3 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That looks nice. It's funny that he mentioned midcentury designs when thinking of how to plan for Third + Shoal. I hadn't thought of that, but the vertical lines and general boxiness of it with sharp edges make sense. I was reminded of the great old midcentury/international boxes the moment I saw that really tall plan for Block 185. That building looked like New York's Lever House and the United Nations Headquarters rolled into one. I would love to see something like that, and yes, keep the braces and make it black. That would look amazing.

I thought that was an interesting point too. I'd love to read more about the inner goings-on with the design of these buildings we talk about so much (are you hearing that, George?).

I suppose I'll have to look at the finished product of third+shoal and see how it compares to those great midcentury skyscrapers. The closest thing we have to anything like that is the BofA building on 6th and Congress, and I really wish we had more like it. Buildings like that are part of the reason Chicago has such a great skyline.

But, maybe it's the black and white drawings but these designs really do evoke that midcentury design element for me, even though theyre from a different building than the one George was talking about. Even just this tease of a design for a building that may or may not be block 185 has me excited, all because of this cool flair that's being added in.

the Genral · #4 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 8:41 PM**

All these unanswered questions; MLS, H2Q, 185, 6th and Guad, American Statesman site, when will Fairmont open...did I leve anthing out??

Jdawgboy · #5 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

All these unanswered questions; MLS, H2Q, 185, 6th and Guad, American Statesman site, when will Fairmont open...did I leve anthing out??

Your favorite building on Barton Creek.

the Genral · #6 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Your favorite building on Barton Creek.

No...that one is already decided. But there is a plethora of questions still to be answered. If we finally do get the answers to up coming projects, we could witness the tallest and best building boom, and perhaps the last, in the history of Austin. The next phase of construction south of the Capitol could be a major game changer to an already impressive skyline. Any major construction boom after that would be north of the Capitol. GB is certainly good at carrot dangling.

Jdawgboy · #7 Posted **Dec 7, 2017, 5:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

No...that one is already decided. But there is a plethora of questions still to be answered. If we finally do get the answers to up coming projects, we could witness the tallest and best building boom, and perhaps the last, in the history of Austin. The next phase of construction south of the Capitol could be a major game changer to an already impressive skyline. Any major construction boom after that would be north of the Capitol. GB is certainly good at carrot dangling.

I know hehe, was hoping for some more of your artful critique of that building for the fun of it lol.

I am looking forward to 600 Guadalupe as well as what could be in store for the post office site and now my interest in Block 185 has peaked again.

ToTheSky · #8 Posted **Dec 7, 2017, 5:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

All these unanswered questions; MLS, H2Q, 185, 6th and Guad, American Statesman site, when will Fairmont open...did I leve anthing out??

Just the "a" and the "y"!

KevinFromTexas · #9 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 8:57 PM**

I wonder if it's a redesign of Block 87. He mentioned they're working on that one also. This looks like it doesn't have much around it and the tower is clearly trying to avoid some kind of corridor or overlay. One of the designs for Block 87 also had the tower standing on columns above the podium much in the way this one does.

Sigaven · #10 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 9:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I wonder if it's a redesign of Block 87. He mentioned they're working on that one also. This looks like it doesn't have much around it and the tower is clearly trying to avoid some kind of corridor or overlay. One of the designs for Block 87 also had the tower standing on columns above the podium much in the way this one does.

Interesting idea but notice how there's no balconies in the sketch. Why would they take those out? Maybe the sketch is an older design and the renderings are a more current version...?

Geckos_Rule · #11 Posted **Dec 6, 2017, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

Interesting idea but notice how there's no balconies in the sketch. Why would they take those out? Maybe the sketch is an older design and the renderings are a more current version...?

Wouldn't that be great!

Kevin, I think you're right about this being a likely candidate. Looking at the podium portion of those renderings along with the picture George posted, they seem to match up pretty similarly. Maybe he'll post something from another angle and you, me, and the other SSP detectives can figure it out

wwmiv · #12 Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 9:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I wonder if it's a redesign of Block 87. He mentioned they're working on that one also. This looks like it doesn't have much around it and the tower is clearly trying to avoid some kind of corridor or overlay. One of the designs for Block 87 also had the tower standing on columns above the podium much in the way this one does.

This makes sense actually, if you'll notice a minor detail in the black and white rendering: the building seems to imply the same CVC generated angle on the side of the building that we can't see by way of this angled (maybe) outdoor (also maybe) courtyard space.

Link

If it is the Episcopal Archives project, perhaps the lack of balconies in this rendering suggests a redesign to either be entirely office or to include more office besides what the Episcopal Church requires in the podium. But, all that said, the angled courtyard honestly could point to any lot that is affected by a CVC, and may thus just as likely be a new project altogether as it is to be the Episcopal Archives lot.

AustinGoesVertical · #13 Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 8:19 PM**

Not Block 87 either. This is a new building Could we be looking at a massive office on the post office site? How about the new development site that will raze The Belmont and one of those banks?

The ATX · #14 Posted **Dec 8, 2017, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Not Block 87 either. This is a new building Could we be looking at a massive office on the post office site? How about the new development site that will raze The Belmont and one of those banks?

It could also be on the site of a stale project, i.e. WPP. But the design does seem to indicate that it's on a site with a CVC.