UT System Headquarters | 270 FEET | 19 FLOORS | COMPLETE

[ahealy]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Something nobody is talking about...why is this squat, aesthetically depressing building going to cost in excess of $133 million? Are they going to erect a golden crane to construct it; install platinum toilets; façade made of pure silver?

Obviously I am being facetious...But, at the same time, I had absolutely no expectation that UT would construct an architecturally pleasing building (even though UT Austin hosts one of the best architecture schools in the U.S.). It's just another overly expensive, unimpressive government building in Austin.

Yeah, good question. The whole uneven lines thing is so so so played out and uninspiring....makes me cringe when I STILL see it being used. It's like "hey, we need to add a dash of something edgy to this big glass box"

[ivanwolf]

The demo started with lane closures and such.

[Jdawgboy]

I'd still would rather see the original building stay and they build the new tower right there where that building is. ^^^the picture above is a perfect view of that corner.

[The ATX]

This project can be seen from the JW webcam. But the webcam probably won't be up too much longer.

[The ATX]

From a U.T. Systems Blog:


http://www.utsystem.edu/sites/new-building/blog

[The ATX]

This project will have two tower cranes:

https://www.austintexas.gov/devrevie...erRSN=11219134

[KevinFromTexas]

I noticed on the last page of the tower crane plans, there is a stacking plan for the 16-story version of the building that includes the heights. Granted it's only the stacking plan, but it is meant to show the general scale of the building and the floor-to-floor heights.

The 16th floor is listed as 210 feet, and the roof, which is certainly only the main roof, is listed as 225 feet. Each of the floors are 14 feet tall. Now, we all know the building was approved at 19 floors by the board of regents. So it should be a good bit taller. Assuming the design depicted in this stacking plan compared to the final one approved is the same, the the height to the main roof should end up being 267 feet. I would estimate the mechanical penthouse is around 10 to 15 feet more. So the mechanical penthouse and top height should be somewhere around 277 to 282 feet.

By the way, the shorter of the two cranes is listed as 284 feet to the top of the peak of the crane. The hook height is listed as 252 feet. So the top of the crane is 37 feet above the hook height. The tallest crane for some reason is listed as 228 feet, which must be some kind of typo, because it lists the hook height as being 291 feet. 291 feet plus 37 feet is 328 feet. And for a ~282 foot tall building, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think that it would need a 328 foot crane.

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/ATD_AULCC/...rane_PLANS.pdf

Also, don't worry about it being scaled back, because that crane permit shows a date of April 14. We only found out it would have 19 floors near the end of August.

[ivanwolf]

Caterpillarsourus is making progress. 10/1 - 10/2/14

[The ATX]

That's not much more progress than shown in the 09/13 photo from the UT blog.

[ivanwolf]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

That's not much more progress than shown in the 09/13 photo from the UT blog.

When they took down the corner of the little building the pieces hit the top of the covered sidewalk and traffic light. That same day all the workers seemed to go into the larger building after standing around for a few hours and are tossing stuff out of it now. So co-workers all think that they are applying to move the covered sidewalk out into the street to allow for more demo room. They likely need to apply for a new ROW permit to use the street for the sidewalk. Since that day they have been sorting metal and removing some concrete but no more demo on the small building.

[KevinFromTexas]

https://www.facebook.com/utsystem/ph...type=3&theater

[wwmiv]

I was about to make the opposite argument. This project is much worse than 5th&Co.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I was about to make the opposite argument. This project is much worse than 5th&Co.

Of course you were. Either way it's not saying much for either building.

[wwmiv]

I actually like 5th&Co.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I actually like 5th&Co.

I don't think either one is horrible, just disappointing in their mediocrity. The best thing I can say about both buildings is that they are so much better than what was there.

[East7thStreet]

The 5th/Colorado rendering actually looks better than this. This is horrendous.

[KevinFromTexas]

I like the facade and color of this, but the shape and bulk of it are so very...1985.

The facade has a chance of being attractive in the way IBC Bank Plaza and Colorado Tower are, but the bulk, and especially the shape of it, bug me. It reminds me of the Capitol Tower and 816 Congress. Too much bulk and too random in shape.

[resansom]

It's those horizontal lines. Just as with horizontally striped shirts, which make you look fat, they make this chunky, oddly shaped building look even shorter and fatter than it is. Blechhh...

[airwx]

Their webcam is live again after being off the last few days.

[brianpm14]

Anyone know how they will demo the Colorado Building there now? 6-7 stories is a lot to bring down with a backhoe. Perhaps another explosive demo?