Austin | Block 185/Google Tower #2 | 594 Feet | 35 Floors | Complete - Page 48

the Genral · #**941** Posted **Sep 7, 2019, 12:01 AM**

I would really like to see edge lighting on the east and west sides from top to bottom.

scraperwill · #**942** Posted **Sep 7, 2019, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echostatic

Looks like they've got about ten feet of digging left. This is going to be quite the pit when it's done. Not quite as large as Indeed Tower's pit was, and without a historic structure in the corner, but still very big.

This hole is substantially larger than the Indeed Tower hole (and deeper)

The ATX · #**943** Posted **Sep 7, 2019, 2:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraperwill

This hole is substantially larger than the Indeed Tower hole (and deeper)

Nice to see a post from you. IIRC, the deepest pits in Austin before this one had five underground parking levels. This one has six.

Echostatic · #**944** Posted **Sep 7, 2019, 2:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraperwill

This hole is substantially larger than the Indeed Tower hole (and deeper)

Yeah, looking at the old Block 71 posts I can see it wasn't as deep as this tower's. Block 185's pit is really deep. But there isn't the visual impact of the old Claudia Taylor Johnson Hall practically perched on a ledge above the foundation.

corvairkeith · #**945** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 5:20 PM**

Still digging...

The ATX · #**946** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 8:48 PM**

Awesome updates today, corvairkeith.

I don't see how they can stick to the schedule of installing the tower cranes next weekend.

Austin1971 · #**947** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

Awesome updates today, corvairkeith.

I don't see how they can stick to the schedule of installing the tower cranes next weekend.

Is that a base at the top of the pic?

corvairkeith · #**948** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 10:11 PM**

Sure looks like it.

The ATX · #**949** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 10:27 PM**

That's unusual. I don't ever recall a project with underground levels having the base outside of the pit.

Vexal · #**950** Posted **Sep 8, 2019, 10:50 PM**

are those square holes in the concrete not supposed to line up or something

enragedcamel · #**951** Posted **Sep 10, 2019, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vexal

are those square holes in the concrete not supposed to line up or something

One of them is out of alignment and it's triggering me.

zrx299 · #**952** Posted **Sep 10, 2019, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Genral

I would really like to see edge lighting on the east and west sides from top to bottom.

If they borrow some of the lighting elements from the Burj Al Arab hotel, this would be an instant game changer for the skyline.

clubtokyo · #**953** Posted **Sep 10, 2019, 9:25 PM**

That lighting would be amazing. I sure hope we get something close!

Jdawgboy · #**954** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 2:35 AM**

I hate to say this but I don't have high hopes when it comes to lighting. Just look at what we have so far in terms of lighting. As much as I'd like to see some impressive lighting, I don't think this this city has any incentive or real desire for impressive lighting features. We could have one with the Fairmont but they don't really know how to use their lighting features to it's full potential. We don't even see lighting on several buildings that have it including the Austonian. Thought they were getting new lighting but other than a couple of times it's just dark. Who knows when or if the Independent will be lit. People are moving in and yet no lighting. Frost goes dark at midnight, used to stay lit till 2 a.m. Dark sky initiative or not, our DT should be lighted as it is the heart and soul of this city. At least have buildings lit till 2 a.m.

KevinFromTexas · #**955** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 7:50 AM**

The thing to remember is that this one is an office tower. Residential buildings tend to not light up very much. Office buildings love to market themselves with pretty lights. Not to mention that this will be a trophy tower, at least by Austin's standards, and along with the Frost Bank Tower, Indeed Tower, and The Republic, I think it'll also be lit in a unique way.

Also, I'm fine with not lighting every single building that comes along. I'd rather reserve the light show for the really spectacular designs that warrant it.

I will say, though, that I wish Austin would take a page from Dallas' playbook when it comes to lighting. They really know how to accent their architectural features better than most cities do.

Azul · #**956** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 1:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vexal

are those square holes in the concrete not supposed to line up or something

They're just anchors going into the soil/rock behind the walls panels, they won't be seen in the finished state. Excavation crews dig a few feet, shotcrete the walls you see now, install the anchor to retain the wall, then shotcrete around the anchor for support and keep going. Typically, these are just temporary retaining walls to finish excavation efforts and crews will come back and form the finished garage walls 6-12" inside the current face for the true structural components.

We vs us · #**957** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 2:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I will say, though, that I wish Austin would take a page from Dallas' playbook when it comes to lighting. They really know how to accent their architectural features better than most cities do.

Agreed and agreed. Our downtown seems significantly underlit to me -- almost every other city does it brighter and better. Which is a shame because we have a lot of potential -- interesting buildings with interesting angles.

enragedcamel · #**958** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 4:28 PM**

I'm quite on the fence on lighting in general. On the one hand, yes, good lighting looks pretty. On the other hand, we already have serious issues with light pollution in cities. I personally wouldn't want to live in an adjacent residential tower if the office tower next door is going to be putting up a light show every night.

zrx299 · #**959** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enragedcamel

I'm quite on the fence on lighting in general. On the one hand, yes, good lighting looks pretty. On the other hand, we already have serious issues with light pollution in cities. I personally wouldn't want to live in an adjacent residential tower if the office tower next door is going to be putting up a light show every night.

https://youtu.be/q40fKsRsHFU?t=10

"Kenny? ... Kenny!? ...."

Jdawgboy · #**960** Posted **Sep 11, 2019, 6:10 PM**

Overall I'm for reducing light pollution especially areas surrounding DT, and I'm not opposed to shutting building lights off after a certain amount of time (not at midnight, makes Austin seem sleepy and inactive when we are most certainly not after midnight.) 2 a.m. is reasonable. But DT is the center and heart and should be lit at night. If the rest of the city reduces light pollution by say 25% even if DT is the brightest part of the city that will still shrink the amount of light pollution in the Austin area. Also there are ways that buildings can be lit that reduces light pollution such as above light coverings and aiming light in such a way that there isn't a lot of residual light escaping.