AUSTIN | Fairmont Hotel | 595 FEET SPIRE/456 FT ROOF | 37 FLRS | Complete - Page 49

The ATX · #**961** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 1:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I'd rather be a tight end (football) than a shooting guard (basketball)...

6'6 260 lbs vs. 6'6 195 lbs

Nice analogy.

JoninATX · #**962** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 1:53 AM**

Ground breaking is tomorrow (hoping). Over at SSC someone said that an excavator is on site.

The ATX · #**963** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Ground breaking is tomorrow (hoping). Over at SSC someone said that an excavator is on site.

The excavator was there on Friday which was the last time I checked out the site. I can't wait for this thing to get started.

Jdawgboy · #**964** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzppjb

I'd rather be a tight end (football) than a shooting guard (basketball)...

6'6 260 lbs vs. 6'6 195 lbs

Doesn't quite work the same way with highrises IMO, but to each his own.

Long buildings look squatty period. Thin towers look tall.

The ATX · #**965** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Doesn't quite work the same way with highrises IMO, but to each his own.

Long buildings look squatty period. Thin towers look tall.

Sometimes girth is better than length, or so I hear.

Jdawgboy · #**966** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 3:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

Sometimes girth is better than length, or so I hear.

Lol depends on the situation, I hear some prefer length over girth but we won't get into details.

5th and West is a good example, I think it's height works for it size, it's a sleek tower and that will go a long way in it's height perception.

tie_guy · #**967** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 4:18 PM**

Well this one will mainly appear girthy from the north/south views. The east/west views should look rather slim. The JW is the same way, but that one is harder to look at from the north/south without the views being obstructed.

At any rate, I also prefer point towers. Thin towers have an elegance to them. Walking in Vancouver, you pass up several point towers within in few blocks, rather than one or two big bulky ones. It gives a different street feel. Squatty buildings look too bold imo, but this is Texas so I guess it works sooometimes.

lzppjb · #**968** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

Sometimes girth is better than length, or so I hear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Lol depends on the situation, I hear some prefer length over girth but we won't get into details.

5th and West is a good example, I think it's height works for it size, it's a sleek tower and that will go a long way in it's height perception.

This has taken quite a turn lol.

Syndic · #**969** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 6:52 PM**

Boom.

Quote:

Ground broken for 1,000-room Fairmont Austin hotel

By Shonda Novak

American-Statesman Staff

Officials broke ground today on a $370 million Fairmont convention hotel in downtown Austin that they say will be the largest in the luxury brand’s portfolio to date.

http://www.statesman.com/news/business/ground-broken-for-1000-room-fairmont-austin-hotel/nhyb3/?ecmp=statesman_social_twitter_2014_sfp

resansom · #**970** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 6:57 PM**

Here's a shot of Seattle's eastside (a.k.a., Bellevue):

It's a nice mix of mid-rise towers, some of which are definitely more of what I would call "point towers" and some that are a bit wider. I think that Austin could use more of the former and fewer of the latter. As for the new 5th and West tower, it looks like it could go either way, depending on the position from which it is viewed...

tie_guy · #**971** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 7:37 PM**

Found this pic online.

Is doesn't even feel real that this has broken ground. Excuse me while I go be emotional!

KevinFromTexas · #**972** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 7:56 PM**

Where's that Ron Paul gif already?

Actually, now that I'm looking at the rendering, it might be hinting at what the top lighting may be. It is a "dusk" rendering, and does show the red light on the spire. The crown also appears lit with those vertical panels. That would be a lot of lights to maintain, but the effect would be interesting.

the Genral · #**973** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 11:09 PM**

I never waivered in my belief that this day would happen albeit months later and 10 floors shorter. My source told me to the best of his knowledge, the only modifications were to some of the meeting rooms and lobby, oops. I've been trying to research this to no avail, but I remember reading somewhere that once you reach a certain floor level, the cost of construction goes up significantly due to the logistics of getting water up to the upper floors among other things. For the same square footage and number of rooms, it would be cheaper to not go as deep or high, which makes me think the construction figure$ on the earlier renders might have been too low, and the reason for the modified design was to stay within their budget or financing options. No matter...this is another game changer and my buddy has guarenteed work for at least two more years. That also means insider info during construction if we need it. Since he is also responsible for the exterior lighting, I'll check with him on that next time I talk to him.

KevinFromTexas · #**974** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 11:43 PM**

So I was able to get the spire height, mechanical screen, mechanical roof and main roof heights, but I'm still wanting to know what the top floor (37th floor) height will be, and the podium height. My source with Gensler had been helpful, but seems to be not helping as much anymore.

I'm not sure if the building will have to resubmit a site plan either with the different design. Anyone know for sure?

JoninATX · #**975** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 1:32 AM**

Lol look at Rick Perry...

Nickelplate · #**976** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 3:42 AM**

PPE is not required for beautifully manicured or absent locks in a construction zone.

midtownstarbucky · #**977** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tie_guy

Found this pic online.

Is doesn't even feel real that this has broken ground. Excuse me while I go be emotional!

Thank you for the pic.

JoninATX · #**978** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 7:44 AM**

I wasn't making fun of Rick Perry, just that he looks so random in that picture. Btw it's a good one at that, glad they finally broke ground on this projects.

The ATX · #**979** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 7:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I wasn't making fun of Rick Perry, just that he looks so ranbom in that picture. Btw it's a good one at that, glad they finally broke ground on this projects.

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm sure there are a lot of Rick Perry supporters on this forum.

jngreenlee · #**980** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 8:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hill Country

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm sure there are a lot of Rick Perry supporters on this forum.

You're right though. He's in the middle of an otherwise unbroken pattern, and he's dressed kind of Fred Armisteinish (the guy from Austinlandia).