AUSTIN | Projects & Construction II - Page 233

nixcity · #**4641** Posted **Feb 4, 2009, 1:26 PM**

I wonder when Gables will start to work on their next building there, and also when the pedestrian bridge will be extended.

Mopacs · #**4642** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 12:41 AM**

No worries....

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/02/02/daily35.html

Contractor removing one crane at Austonian, moving offices up

Developers of The Austonian are again warding off rumors of changes to the luxury condo’s plans as the construction team prepares to remove its trailers and a crane.

Bob Albanese, construction manager for The Austonian, confirmed that the project’s luffing crane, which transports items within a confined space, will be removed on Feb. 5 because it’s no longer needed. The tower crane, which reaches higher floors, will remain.

Albanse also said the construction trailers at the base of the project will be removed on Feb. 13 as Balfour Beatty Construction, the project’s contractor, moves its offices into a temporarily finished out space on the 7th floor of the parking garage.

Those changes are a routine part of the condo’s construction, Albanese emphasized, and rumors that the project will stop short of its planned 56 stories are untrue, he said.

This isn’t the first time the high-profile downtown condo project has been speculated as troubled. In August, Austonian developers held a news conference on the building’s 10th floor, unveiling renderings and offering assurances that the 56-story tower will be completed as planned.
Still, the development team declined to say how many of the building’s 188 units have been sold, citing company policy.

When it’s completed in spring 2010, The Austonian will be the tallest skyscraper in Austin, roughly 170 feet taller than Frost Bank Tower.
Benchmark Development, the Austin-based subsidiary of Grupo Villar Mir, is the developer of The Austonian. Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston designed the project, and Balfour Beatty Construction is the contractor.

LoneStarMike · #**4643** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 1:34 PM**

Great shots mopacs and priller. The Austonian is really going to change that I-35 view of the skyline. And priller, based on the vantage points in some of your photos and the fact that you took that long walk to the LBJ Museum, I'd say your knee surgery was a resounding success.

Here's a few of my recent photos from February 3. This weather has sure been nice - well except for the fact that we never get any rain.

21 Rio

Looking downtown from UT

Congress Avenue

Recently completed esplanade

Convention Center

From Convention Center Looking West at Second Street

Four Seasons Residences & San Jacinto Tower from Convention Center balcony.

I had never been up to those balconies at the Convention Center before, but they're nice. There's lots of those aluminum chairs and tables with taller tables and barstools along the railing. You can get some nice views of parts of the skyline from there and unlike at an increasing number of parking garages, there's no security guards to shoo you away - at least not when I was there.

Another view from the convention center balcony

Spring from south shore of Lady Bird Lake

Spring and Monarch from underneath the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

A view of Monarch from a few nights earlier

I've noticed the last several times I've been out at night, the Monarch has been fixed on one color rather than changing like it normally does. A couple of nights it was green, then another it was blue. 100 Congress had been dark for awhile, but the white lights are back. I really wish they'd bring back the red, white and teal lights they had a couple of summers ago. That, with the blue of One Congress Plaza, the colored lights from the Monarch and the lit trees along the esplanade would make for a colorfull, well-lit nighttime scene.

Nightfeed · #**4644** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 5:55 PM**

LoneStarMike that shot of the Monarch with the blue top reflecting in the water is amazing. If I had the full size version of it I'd put it as my desktop background

priller · #**4645** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 6:06 PM**

Agreed. Super shot!

LoneStarMike · #**4646** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 6:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfeed

LoneStarMike that shot of the Monarch with the blue top reflecting in the water is amazing. If I had the full size version of it I'd put it as my desktop background

Thanks. I went back and resized it (as large as photobucket will let me.)

jowens · #**4647** Posted **Feb 5, 2009, 6:26 PM**

Great pics LoneStarMike!!

What is the deal with the lighting on 100 Congress. Is it for certain days, events, etc. I've tried to figure out their lighting schedule, but can't make sense of it.

tgbAustinite · #**4648** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 2:17 AM**

awesome shots mike!

priller · #**4649** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 2:28 PM**

A few photos taken yesterday morning, from the top floor of the Hilton Garden Inn:

LoneStarMike · #**4650** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 3:06 PM**

Wow! Those are awesome, priller.

Isn't there a restaurant up there?

KevinFromTexas · #**4651** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 3:17 PM**

Wow. LOVE that first shot. Spring sure is skinny, isn't it?

Here's a shot I took from Saint Ed's last Saturday.

priller · #**4652** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 4:07 PM**

Nice view from St. Ed's! Yes, there is a restaurant and lounge up there. It's actually pretty good. It's never crowded, even on the weekends. And it has a pretty decent view. A nice, quiet place to hang out when you get tired of the noise and crowds on 6th St.

shanny · #**4653** Posted **Feb 6, 2009, 6:43 PM**

which was unfortunately on fire this morning from what i heard!

LoneStarMike · #**4654** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 1:52 PM**

That's an awesome shot from St. Eds Kevin. Everything looks surprisingly green.

BTW, you guys really really should go check out the Convention Center Patios. I went again yesterday afternoon. There's two on the third level on the west side of the building. But if you come back inside and take the elevator to the fourth floor, there's another huge patio along the west side. Take a look.

Then, you can come inside and turn the corner and walk east along the north side of the Convention Center, past these huge glass windows.

A little ways past that, there's another patio (be still my heart.)

I was like a child at Christmas.

KevinFromTexas · #**4655** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 2:13 PM**

Wow. That is nice. And The Austonian looks great there. I'm loving the color of the glass.

zx14 · #**4656** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 2:41 PM**

Austonian seems to be at a stand still. No progress on the 32nd floor this week. Whats up.

priller · #**4657** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 6:32 PM**

No, I saw all kind of rebar sprouting up this morning. They're still moving forward.

HOUSTONIAN57 · #**4658** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 6:47 PM**

Hows the W Hotel?

Is it still U/C?

MichaelB · #**4659** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 7:06 PM**

More on "LaVista on Lavaca". So they are working on it. Actually putting up framing for another floor. What is interesting is that they have taken down all the old signs. I "wonder" if they are going to change the name... one can only hope. Maybe they will change the name and the look! One can only pray!

Jdawgboy · #**4660** Posted **Feb 7, 2009, 7:09 PM**

The Austonian is moving forward. The W Hotel is about to rise above ground.