Austin | ATX Tower (321 West 6th) | 675 Feet | 58 Floors | Complete - Page 26

KevinFromTexas · #**501** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 5:36 AM**

Yeah, this one is pretty awful. The worst part is that the top doesn't match the bottom at all, and the cladd on the parking levels is horrid. It looks like a residential tower stacked on top of a switching station.

Jdawgboy · #**502** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 1:53 PM**

It's horrible, plain and simple.

ahealy · #**503** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 2:07 PM**

Yeah, very few ways they could fix this if they wanted to. Large ads on the podium (upcoming big shows in town/tv) or doing glass on the podium. That's about it.

paul78701 · #**504** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

^^^So, in the name of infill, this type of cladding is okay with some of you?

Nobody is saying that. I don't think anyone thinks it looks good. Just trying to look for silver linings. (Negative Nancy-ism is not my thing)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVSAT

If that is the case, how many more parking structures like this need to be constructed before it's too much for those who are okay with this type of aesthetic? For me, it should have stopped with 3rd & Shoal!

No amount of complaining any of us do on this site is going to change anything. So I find the constant, sometimes incessant, complaining about this sort of thing a bit comical...and sometimes annoying. It just clutters up the threads IMHO. (Thumbs up to the podium thread)

I care most about what amenities buildings may (or may not) bring in at the street level and how many pedestrians (density) they may bring to help create/sustain other amenities nearby. Place making is what helps make cities interesting.

ahealy · #**505** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 4:17 PM**

Quote:

No amount of complaining any of us do on this site is going to change anything. So I find the constant, sometimes incessant, complaining about this sort of thing a bit comical...and sometimes annoying. It just clutters up the threads IMHO. (Thumbs up to the podium thread)

I care most about what amenities buildings may (or may not) bring in at the street level and how many pedestrians (density) they may bring to help create/sustain other amenities nearby. Place making is what helps make cities interesting.

I get it. As you know, this building trend is snowballing in Austin and it's rather spooky when a size-able collection of prime blocks are being built up with very very mediocre filler towers.

I'm all about healthy street level interaction and realize we're bound to have some filler resi towers (which is awesome considering the height), but this is an architecture forum...so the bitching is inevitable and sadly... relevant here.

Also, the street level activation doesn't seem noteworthy here. Hoping they hit it out of the park on retail choices and landscaping.

Lobotomizer · #**506** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul78701

Nobody is saying that. I don't think anyone thinks it looks good. Just trying to look for silver linings. (Negative Nancy-ism is not my thing)

No amount of complaining any of us do on this site is going to change anything. So I find the constant, sometimes incessant, complaining about this sort of thing a bit comical...and sometimes annoying. It just clutters up the threads IMHO. (Thumbs up to the podium thread)

I care most about what amenities buildings may (or may not) bring in at the street level and how many pedestrians (density) they may bring to help create/sustain other amenities nearby. Place making is what helps make cities interesting.

Word.

And having all the office workers and new residents in this new building is good for downtown. Not to mention the tax base for the city. It all adds up to a more vibrant and successful city.

And while it could be better, in my mind it's infinitely better in every imaginable way than the single story drive though bank it replaces.

paul78701 · #**507** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I get it. As you know, this building trend is snowballing in Austin and it's rather spooky when a size-able collection of prime blocks are being built up with very very mediocre filler towers.

Not every building can be iconic though. Even NYC and Chicago have plenty of nondescript buildings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I'm all about healthy street level interaction and realize we're bound to have some filler resi towers (which is awesome considering the height), but this is an architecture forum...so the bitching is inevitable and sadly... relevant here.

It's relevant, yes. But after making one's point, bitching about the same thing over and over and over eventually becomes...pointless. Also, some of us aren't architecture geeks. We're more urbanization geeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Also, the street level activation doesn't seem noteworthy here. Hoping they hit it out of the park on retail choices and landscaping.

We don't really know yet, but hopefully, yes. Even if not, as I was saying, this building will bring a lot of pedestrians and will at least contribute to the urban fabric in that way. I like tall buildings more because they tend to bring more square footage (thus people) than I do about them looking cool. When they look cool, it's just a bonus.

AusTex · #**508** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 4:57 PM**

The big question goes to the city. WHY are you still allowing this type of discordant cladding on new buildings? Other cities have had design commissions for decades. WHY is Austin sooo behind.

The only answer I can come up with is that the State of Texas would not allow such a commission to exist. Otherwise, City of Austin get your act together before we are inundated with more of these city defacing structures.

Also, as members of this forum we need to light the fire at city hall on this issue. No one else will.

MichaelB · #**509** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I get it. As you know, this building trend is snowballing in Austin and it's rather spooky when a size-able collection of prime blocks are being built up with very very mediocre filler towers.

I'm all about healthy street level interaction and realize we're bound to have some filler resi towers (which is awesome considering the height), but this is an architecture forum...so the bitching is inevitable and sadly... relevant here.

Also, the street level activation doesn't seem noteworthy here. Hoping they hit it out of the park on retail choices and landscaping.

1;agreed.
2; agreed. and necessary to be heard. Even good Urbanization includes well designed human spaces to improve quality of a more dense life.
3:Fingers crossed on last statement. But chances are we'll never get a local restaurant in this space. Which sucks.

Jdawgboy · #**510** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

The big question goes to the city. WHY are you still allowing this type of discordant cladding on new buildings? Other cities have had design commissions for decades. WHY is Austin sooo behind.

The only answer I can come up with is that the State of Texas would not allow such a commission to exist. Otherwise, City of Austin get your act together before we are inundated with more of these city defacing structures.

Also, as members of this forum we need to light the fire at city hall on this issue. No one else will.

Agreed.

paul78701 · #**511** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

The big question goes to the city. WHY are you still allowing this type of discordant cladding on new buildings? Other cities have had design commissions for decades. WHY is Austin sooo behind.

The only answer I can come up with is that the State of Texas would not allow such a commission to exist. Otherwise, City of Austin get your act together before we are inundated with more of these city defacing structures.

Also, as members of this forum we need to light the fire at city hall on this issue. No one else will.

Voicing your concerns to the appropriate government representatives will be a lot more productive than voicing them here.

AusTex · #**512** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 6:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul78701

Voicing your concerns to the appropriate government representatives will be a lot more productive than voicing them here.

Already Have, Thanks

ahealy · #**513** Posted **Mar 12, 2022, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul78701

Voicing your concerns to the appropriate government representatives will be a lot more productive than voicing them here.

Hehe....well, this is a forum on architecture/development. What did you expect?!!

Do we have more renders from different angles?? Nighttime?

paul78701 · #**514** Posted **Mar 13, 2022, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Hehe....well, this is a forum on architecture/development. What did you expect?!!

I readily acknowledged that above. You seem to have missed my point. No worries. We're borderline off topic here anyway.

wwmiv · #**515** Posted **Mar 13, 2022, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

The big question goes to the city. WHY are you still allowing this type of discordant cladding on new buildings? Other cities have had design commissions for decades. WHY is Austin sooo behind.

The only answer I can come up with is that the State of Texas would not allow such a commission to exist. Otherwise, City of Austin get your act together before we are inundated with more of these city defacing structures.

Also, as members of this forum we need to light the fire at city hall on this issue. No one else will.

San Antonio has a design commission, so doubtful the state would do anything.

H2O · #**516** Posted **Mar 13, 2022, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTex

The big question goes to the city. WHY are you still allowing this type of discordant cladding on new buildings? Other cities have had design commissions for decades. WHY is Austin sooo behind.

The only answer I can come up with is that the State of Texas would not allow such a commission to exist. Otherwise, City of Austin get your act together before we are inundated with more of these city defacing structures.

Also, as members of this forum we need to light the fire at city hall on this issue. No one else will.

The City of Austin does have a Design Commission https://www.austintexas.gov/content/design-commission and Urban Design Guidelines https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/de...for_austin.pdf that discourage parking podiums and scaleless cladding, but unless there are made into requirements that are enshrined in the Land Development Code, they are essentially toothless. Regulating specific materials can be very difficult and a slippery slope to over regulation that can discourage development.

wwmiv · #**517** Posted **Mar 13, 2022, 8:04 PM**

I disagree with everyone on this building. I like it.

The ATX · #**518** Posted **Mar 13, 2022, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I disagree with everyone on this building. I like it.

I also like it overall. I just wish the parking section had a different facade even if only the color.

ahealy · #**519** Posted **Mar 14, 2022, 1:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

I also like it overall. I just wish the parking section had a different facade even if only the color.

Watch out, P.P.P. are monitoring this thread. Spilling over from reddit.

Sigaven · #**520** Posted **Mar 14, 2022, 3:19 PM**

It's perfectly reasonable to be upset about bad design. Yes, plain metal screens on parking podiums is bad design. Sure there may be a reason for it ($$$) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be upset about more bad design ruining the aesthetic of our city. The urban landscape of downtown belongs to all of us and these horrible structures detract from it greatly one by one. We have a right to demand better design not only for the buildings themselves but also for the overall urban landscape. We are stuck with these buildings for decades if not hundreds of years.

I guess the only silver lining is that there is a possibility that this cladding might eventually get replaced by something better in the decades to come.