AUSTIN | Waterline (98 Red River) | 1,022 Feet | 73 Floors | U/C

[The ATX]

A couple of other things from the article...

The hotel portion has increased from 150 to 200 rooms, and there will be this weird pedestrian bridge...

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

The skyline will have that urban feng shui look with three separate high rise clusters centered around 650'-700' towers. Awesome.

The 56-story condo tower may be in the neighborhood of 675' (based on a quick Google Earth assessment of the site. It will obviously depend on the final grading as the site varies from about 460' to 515' ground elevation. The ground elevation at the Austonian is about 477'.

The 46-story tower may be about 550' tall...

[wwmiv]

They're legitimately trying to help create a riverwalk with shops and cafes rather than just a park feel:

A natural bend in the creek will wrap around the tallest tower, and cafes, restaurants, bars, and boutiques with their own views of the water will line the lower levels of all three buildings.

I'm nervous to see the final designs (I've never liked the various stages of design they've had).

[Austin1971]

Incredible if built. What's the price tag on this thing? 500-750M?

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I'm nervous to see the final designs (I've never liked the various stages of design they've had).

Ayup. Cold, sterile, outmoded high-tech, aloof, abrupt, rigid, hostile. Given more time I'm sure I could treble the length of adjectives without saying anything nice. But I bet the renderings are just ugly. It's like how I love the 70 Rainey design because of beautiful renderings, but people are saying it won't turn out that nice; maybe Waller is the inverse of that situation. They're not selling it very well, it doesn't look remotely like anything that belongs in Austin. It looks like it would be built in some nether region of China where the government is trying to herd people into an artificially imposed city. Except that's not fair to China, since they're arguably leading the globe in spectacular new architectural visions.

[KevinFromTexas]

I agree about the designs. The current ones feel like casinos. I'm not a fan. I'm not even sure I was crazy about the previous taller proposals. I'd rather not have the towers appear too similar. I'd rather have a situation similar to Spring, The Bowie and The Monarch where each complement each other rather than have true twin designs. I love the idea of the buildings being connected to the "creek walk" and having ground level retail spaces. Once it's all done, it will be possible to walk from Waterloo Park down the creek trail to the river and then patronize those retail spaces in these buildings. With the state garages near Waterloo Park, it might even encourage suburbanites to venture there.

[GoldenBoot]

I really liked this design! It's a shame they had to go and mess it up, imo. The tallest one in this 2013 rendering looks to be about 62 stories (plus the height of the crown).

[Jdawgboy]

I'm hoping the design has changed from the last rebderings. With the added floors, they may want to make more of a statement, maybe with interesting crowns on the two tallest.

The 29 story will be the tallest office tower east of Brazos St. and will be very prominent from 35. They have an opportunity to design a stunning building on par with Frost. Sure it won't be as tall but considering the recent office building designs (except 3rd @ Colorado cause I really like the way the building looks from different angles and the glass is very nice, though they need to hurry up and just light it up at night already!), I'd like to see something other than flat roofed boxes.

I'm getting excited again about the southeast corner of DT. For awhile there I wasn't sure what would ultimately happen considering the long waits between hearing any updates. The only tower that I'm not getting hopes up for is 99 Trinity. There's just too much doubt and uncertainty about what's going on behind the scenes. That lot screams for a significant tower though. Something that could compete for tallest maybe..

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I really liked this design! It's a shame they had to go and mess it up, imo. The tallest one in this 2013 rendering looks to be about 62 stories (plus the height of the crown).

I agree. Just the shape and curvaiture of the towers alone would be a great addition to the skyline plus would complement the Austonian. The only thing that would be even better is to have each tower a different color. I could see a 29 story version of that office building.

No more squares and rectangles!

[AustinGoesVertical]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I agree. Just the shape and curvaiture of the towers alone would be a great addition to the skyline plus would complement the Austonian. The only thing that would be even better is to have each tower a different color. I could see a 29 story version of that office building.

No more squares and rectangles!

I think everyone is reading way to much into these renderings. There's no date on them and they don't look polished at all. I think they were merely just conceptual. Once they release renderings that are more computer generated, like 70 Rainey's recent posting, I think the site will look much better. I'd be surprised if they didn't crown the 56-story tower. I think they want to make a statement with these designs.

[drummer]

That rendering above could totally have a climbing rockwall on the side of the podium of the tallest tower, haha! Great side business.

[AustinGoesVertical]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I agree. Just the shape and curvaiture of the towers alone would be a great addition to the skyline plus would complement the Austonian. The only thing that would be even better is to have each tower a different color. I could see a 29 story version of that office building.

No more squares and rectangles!

Click on link: http://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/564/259564.jpg

Anyone see a resemblance? This is One Museum Park and One Museum Park West in Chicago. This was a two phase project built about 5 years ago. The towers are 62-stories (726') and 56-stories (595') respectively. Heights and design are very similar to what we could see with Waller Park Place.

Photo: Joseph Askins
Original site: http://yochicago.com/construction-ch...k-west-3/8766/

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Click on link: http://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/564/259564.jpg

Yeesh. I hope they've gotten that out of their system and will do better for Austin. Nice sleuthing to find that, AGV!

I agree with others who've said they like the older design. Those shapes complement each other nicely. Colors will be a big issue to make it all work together well without looking like a set purchased at Target. The coloring of the buildings in Chicago is, to my taste, horrific. But I don't think that type of look would be attempted in Austin by anyone, it's far too out of character for the look and feel of this area.

drummer's idea for a rock climbing wall on one side of a podium is awesome. Of course it would never happen, but I wish it would. Activities like that provide an interactive focal point that livens up a place, and attracts more people than just the retail and restaurants alone. But I'm sure it will be a popular area once everything is finished and the trail is flourishing.

Hopefully the slick urban feel of what is planned for the Waller Park Place portion of the creek trail will not be replicated anywhere north of the Fairmont. It could end up feeling kind of sterile, lacking the beauty and character that I've been expecting based on the proposal that was accepted for the trail's design. At the very least, mix in some trees so that it's attractive and tolerable to walk during sunny hot days.

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by Tech House

Yeesh. I hope they've gotten that out of their system and will do better for Austin.

One Museum Park was designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Pappageorge Haymes, Ltd.

One Museum Park

Waller Park Place is being designed by the IBI Group

This page shows some examples of some if the high-rises they've designed. (Click on that purple box to download their residential High-rise design brochure.)

On page 23, it shows they've done 101 projects in Vancouver alone.

I agree with AustinGoesVertical that Waller Park Place will probably look a lot better in real life than it does in the renderings.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

I agree with AustinGoesVertical that Waller Park Place will probably look a lot better in real life than it does in the renderings.

I agree - they'd have to be very intentional to make it look as bad as some of those renderings look, haha.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by LoneStarMike

Waller Park Place is being designed by the IBI Group

This page shows some examples of some if the high-rises they've designed.

Thank you for the encouraging information. Based upon the menu presented, I have ordered one of these for Austin: http://www.ibigroup.com/projects/88-scott-street That goes near the top of my list of favorite skysrapers. I can't believe it's not butter taller. The design lends it the sophistication and grandeur of something much larger. It draws the eye upward.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Tech House

Thank you for the encouraging information. Based upon the menu presented, I have ordered one of these for Austin: http://www.ibigroup.com/projects/88-scott-street That goes near the top of my list of favorite skysrapers. I can't believe it's not butter taller. The design lends it the sophistication and grandeur of something much larger. It draws the eye upward.

I agree! Even at 53 stories, that is one hell of a sexy building.

[GoldenBoot]

Something fun...

Considering the 56-story tower will include a high-end/luxury hotel and condominiums, I believe it is safe to say that the condos will be hotel-branded or managed. So, which brand might it be?

Here are a few in which I have knowledge that have been "feeling out" Austin. The interest of some have been more recent. However, at least one other has had interest in the area dating back to the late '80s. All of whom have (or are in the midst of planning) hotel & residence structures in North and/or Central America.

I do not believe Austin is currently high on the list of most high-end/luxury Asian or European brands (i.e. Shangri-La, Regent, Raffles, etc.)...other than the ones listed below.

What do you all think?

- 1 Hotel
- 21c
- Andaz
- Edition
- Hard Rock
- Hyatt, Grand
- Hyatt, Park
- Mandarin Oriental
- Le Méridien
- Radisson Blu
- Ritz-Carlton
- SLS
- St. Regis
- Trump
- TWELVE

*NOTE: the actual hotel and hotel-branded condos may not be listed above.

[ILUVSAT]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Something fun...

Considering the 56-story tower will include a high-end/luxury hotel and condominiums, I believe it is safe to say that the condos will be hotel-branded or managed. So, which brand might it be?

Here are a few in which I have knowledge that have been "feeling out" Austin. The interest of some have been more recent. However, at least one other has had interest in the area dating back to the late '80s. All of whom have (or are in the midst of planning) hotel & residence structures in North and/or Central America.

I do not believe Austin is currently high on the list of most high-end/luxury Asian or European brands (i.e. Shangri-La, Regent, Raffles, etc.)...other than the ones listed below.

What do you all think?

- 1 Hotel
- 21c
- Andaz
- Edition
- Hard Rock
- Hyatt, Grand
- Hyatt, Park
- Mandarin Oriental
- Le Méridien
- Radisson Blu
- Ritz-Carlton
- SLS
- St. Regis
- Trump
- TWELVE

*NOTE: the actual hotel and hotel-branded condos may not be listed above.

I'd vote for:

21c
Edition
Hard Rock
Ritz-Carlton
SLS
Twelve

And just 'cause I love their hotels, I'd also vote for One&Only, Oberoi, Shangri-La or Raffles. But, I'm not sure if they have condo-hotels. I think the Shangri-La has at least one in North America...Vancouver?!?


**Does anyone else think there is a chance Hotel ZaZa makes the jump from Republic Square to Waller Park Place???

[drummer]

I'm bettin' on "Motel 6 Condominiums."