AUSTIN | 300 Colorado | 446 FEET | 32 FLOORS | COMPLETE

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by The ATX

A large file was attached to the site plan today. There isn't much new info. But there are 340,000 sq. ft. of office space, and there are no underground parking levels.

I know this is a joint project between Riverside Resources, the land owner, and Cousins Properties, but I hope it's Cousins who develops the project. They did a good job on Colorado Tower. They spent the money to install ventilation and wrap all four sides of the parking levels in glass. Something Third + Shoal opted not to do.

Colorado Tower
http://www.coloradotower.info/toc.cfm

[Sigaven]

I like that comparison, it'd be cool if they added some kind of similar detail to the top like in that Chicago building.

[The ATX]

We have renderings, and elevations are also available in the link below the renderings. All the verbiage states that it will be 455', but the elevations show the 446' height. I think the verbiage is correct, and the elevations are not the most recent.






http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=301038

[KevinFromTexas]

Well. It's definitely a corporate office tower. lol

You know, the funny thing is, I used to think that residential buildings were ugly, but now I'm more a fan of them than of office towers.

I remember people weren't happy with the design of the taller residential tower that had been planned here, but I think that one was a better looking building, without even considering the height.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Well. It's definitely a corporate office tower. lol

You know, the funny thing is, I used to think that residential buildings were ugly, but now I'm more a fan of them than of office towers.

I remember people weren't happy with the design of the taller residential tower that had been planned here, but I think that one was a better looking building, without even considering the height.

I like this project at street level. But it's just another big but functional rectangle with no outstanding features.

[Jdawgboy]

Yea this is just another bleh. You would think they would want to have some sort of unique feature which would set it apart. At least 3rd @ Colorado has a crown. I never got my hopes up to begin with and I still say I'll miss the current building.

[The ATX]

One big plus for this project is that the 14 levels of parking are incredibly well hidden.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I like this project at street level. But it's just another big but functional rectangle with no outstanding features.

Oh man I guess they are just hoping for the "participation" trophy.

[NYC2ATX]

I actually am quite happy with this new proposal for a few reasons:

The width of it compared to the older proposal does both a better job of filling the glaring gap between the W and the Colorado Tower, as well as obscuring the basic-as-all-hell Indeed building at 5th and Colorado from the lake, which nobody needs to see. Also, the black grid does do a bit to set it apart from other towers under construction...it's not just a glass box, and the parking garage is one of the best obscured by/blended with the design of the overall building.

There's also the fact that this being switched to office speaks to the strength of the downtown office market, with several new towers, like 405 Colorado, Block 71, and Block 185 moving quickly towards construction. That being said, the design of the residential tower here left a lot to be desired IMO.

What's key is that apartments/condos not going up here means another project with a better design may now rise elsewhere, as the demand for downtown living is pushed to other projects and further swelled by these office towers exploding the job market in the area.

It's just one of the next wave really

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Oh man I guess they are just hoping for the "participation" trophy.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

exactly!

[the Genral]

I asked several people what they thought of the design. Here are the results;

https://youtu.be/M3QYDtSbhrA

[Oraclelp]

I did better skyscraper design on my etch-a-sketch 40+ years ago; we’ve gone from a mildly interesting tallish tower to a shorter building with a design that could have been drawn by a 10 year old. Why did they even bother with the one tiny section that is notched? Oh well, at least now a low bar has been set.

[SkyPie]

I built something similar with my Girder and Panel building set back in the 70's.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by SkyPie

I built something similar with my Girder and Panel building set back in the 70's.

I had one of those. Much better than Legos and perfect for designing those mid-century high-rises


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/103371...56243/?lp=true

[KevinFromTexas]

It's alright, but I thought that crevice running up the side would be more pronounced based on what the elevations indicated. Something a little wider like the Chicago tower, which I actually really like. For some reason, those vertical lines on that Chicago tower have a sort of industrial feel, which would have been perfect for what was Austin's warehouse district.

[drummer]

It looks great next to the Hobby building.

[Syndic]

Yikes, guys. Considering how prominent it will be in our skyline, you'd think they'd want to do something with it that makes it unique. There's nothing Austiny about this building at all.

[427MM]

Originally Posted by Syndic

Yikes, guys. Considering how prominent it will be in our skyline, you'd think they'd want to do something with it that makes it unique. There's nothing Austiny about this building at all.

I'm pretty sure the only plans we've seen are those of the broker. We have yet to see a Hanover design but my guess is that it will be much improved.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by 427MM

I'm pretty sure the only plans we've seen are those of the broker. We have yet to see a Hanover design but my guess is that it will be much improved.

Oh good so that is not the final design then.