Austin Projects & Construction

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by greenbelt

How did it go last night? Sorry I couldn't be there.

It went great.

And my theory regarding a small “height war” may be coming to fruition. If anyone noticed, Tom Stacy’s project rezoning requests were positioned just before Benchmark’s request for their 200 Congress project. As we all know, both of these projects have been sited as having heights in the neighborhood of 700’. Well, Benchmark did what I would have done in their shoes – knowing Stacy’s project requests were before theirs, Benchmark requested a postponement on their case. I believe this way a planned move. In doing so, Benchmark achieved the ability to view information regarding Stacy’s project. Giving them the opportunity to bump alter their plans over the next two weeks.

Why do all of this? Well, if you are proposing to spend $100-$200 million on a skyscraper that may be the tallest in your respective city – wouldn’t you do everything possible to secure your claim to the “tallest building in town?”

Richard Suttle, Stacy’s attorney, did a very good job at not giving away too much information on their project. He provided just enough information to secure zoning approval. The only aspect of his presentation that gave away the potential size of 5th & Congress was their request for an FAR of 30:1 (from the current 8:1 & 12:1). This will allow for a building in excess of 700’ on their site.

However, when Commissioner Moore requested to see some preliminary renderings, Stacy got up and obliged him. His renderings depicted a structure in the neighborhood of 750’ (roughly equal to the total height, including antennae, of the Tower of Americas in San Antonio) with no spire. Its E-W façade is slender with a wide N-S façade. The building includes ground level and 2nd floor retail, hotel or office space and topped with roughly 180 condominiums.

By the way, the rendering shown at the Commission hearing was a rendering provided by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The final product may be similar to what was shown - or it may not. Nonetheless, the rendering in question was, I believe, the one P.C.P. Architects. supplied in their response to Stacy's RFP.

I will be eager to see Benchmark’s presentation on May 23!

[StoOgE]

Did you say 750'? and it isnt all spire or antenna its actual roof?



Come on Benchmark. You can beat that. 800' should do the trick.

[MichaelB]

THe Statesman has an article on 5th and congress with renderings.....

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/05/11downtown.html

[greenbelt]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

THe Statesman has an article on 5th and congress with renderings.....

Photo rendering of what the development at 5th
and Congress would look like.

© PELLI CLARKE PELLI ARCHITECTS 2006

© PELLI CLARKE PELLI ARCHITECTS 2006

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN
World-famous architects to design Austin building
Pelli Clarke Pelli, who created the Petronas Towers, have plans for
what's intended to be the tallest building in the city.
By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The team of architects that designed the Petronas Towers, once the world's tallest buildings,
will design what is expected to become Austin's tallest high-rise.

Cesar Pelli and Fred Clarke of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, based in New Haven, Conn., will design a mixed-use
tower with up to 47 stories that developer Tom Stacy plans to build at Fifth Street and Congress Avenue.

"These guys have been developing buildings for the past 20 years, and we have the opportunity to bring
that experience, creativity and expertise to Austin," Stacy said.

Saying he wants a building that is unique to Austin, Stacy said it will be "a world-class
building molded to fit the culture, needs and desires of the Austin community."

Clarke and a third member of the team, Bill Butler, have Texas connections: Clarke is a graduate
of the University of Texas School of Architecture and Butler grew up in San Antonio.

Stacy said his connection to Pelli Clarke Pelli was through the local architect on the project,
UT architecture graduate Jack Tisdale with Susman Tisdale Gayle.

Tuesday night, the Planning Commission recommended a zoning change that would allow Stacy to
build a tower with up to 1 million square feet. Current plans call for a building with 875,000 to
900,000 square feet and up to 700 feet tall. It will include condominiums, retail and possibly other uses.

[greenbelt]

REVISED: 5-10

[Dale]

WOW ! You can't even go away and leave these thread for two hours and something like this happens.

[Thskyscraper]

Austin, up and coming!!! Congrats to those people in Austin, you guys have a nice skyline developing.

[StoOgE]

not the biggest news in the world, but it looks like they are adding to the BoA building.

[greenbelt]

HEY GUYS, SOME MIXED REVIEWS ON THE STATEMAN'S ONLINE POLL (makes for some interesting reading):

Austin’s changing skyline
Wednesday, May 10, 2006, 05:17 PM
What do you think of the proposed design for the development at Fifth Street and Congress Avenue?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS:

By Kirby
May 10, 2006 07:09 PM | Link to this
Woohoo! I know the design will change, but it’s a great start.

By Adam
May 10, 2006 07:25 PM | Link to this
That is a hideous design, and destroys the appeal of the really great building next to it.

Where do I sign to stop this???

By Drew
May 10, 2006 07:35 PM | Link to this
I like the proposed design. The top part of the structure is thin as to try to avoid blocking views. It will look good right next to the Frost Bank Tower. When will construction start?

By Beth
May 10, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this
I’m all for creative architecture, but this just looks like an ugly, long toe that sticks out more than the others. Maybe it wouldn’t look as bad if it were shorter. I hope this isn’t the final plan…yuck!

By NotLance
May 10, 2006 07:42 PM | Link to this
Wow, that is one pig of a building. It will be an eyesore for generations to come, a true ‘what were they thinking’ monument. :babyeat:

By unkle tim
May 10, 2006 07:46 PM | Link to this
i believe that this type of building in austin is completely out of character. the frost tower sticks out like a sore thumb. i miss the days when you could go to barton springs at night and not have to see the lights of the frost tower glowing brightly into the night. one of the best things about this city is the fact that you can still see the stars at night! why can’t we have the capitol and the UT tower be the landmarks of austin and keep the office buildings out of the way. this is not dallas or houston. let them have the highrises, and let us keep the views.

By
May 10, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this
I love it I can’t wait for construction to start. Austin is not a midsized town any more. It is a large city, and should have large buildings.

By Gerald
May 10, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
What was that guy thinking? He must not know Austin because that building does not belong here.

By Richard
May 10, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this
The design is unique and interesting but absolutely too tall. I don’t want the Austin skyline to turn into a contest for height. The current limits need to stay in place!!!

By Andre
May 10, 2006 08:46 PM | Link to this
This should fit right into the “Keep Austin Weird” crowd,, all it will need is some bumper stickers..

By South Austinite
May 10, 2006 08:47 PM | Link to this
I liked Austin when it was not a large city, please tell this guy to head to Dallas- no thanks

By Randy H
May 10, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this
Wonderful design! It will bring international attention to a city overshadowed by Houston & Dallas architecture. Let’s hope no one pulls a “Blanton” on us and scares away another world-famous designer.

By Philip
May 10, 2006 08:55 PM | Link to this
This is nothing more than an eyesore. Very little original design features. Looks like a ceral box. I guess it will rival the “Super Drum” as the worst attempt to be creative in Austin.

By Steve
May 10, 2006 08:57 PM | Link to this
That is not an Austin building. Frost should be the biggest, not this, it looks like a book end.

Where are the good designers anymore and who is John Galt?

By Polo
May 10, 2006 08:58 PM | Link to this
Someone commented “where do I sign to stop this thing.” That’s always the Austin reaction to anything bold. Let’s not applaud the risk-takers who are leading the way. I’m afriad this is why Austin will wait too long to find out it is a big city.

By Jay
May 10, 2006 09:04 PM | Link to this
Since when does it matter what we think?

By Steven
May 10, 2006 09:06 PM | Link to this
I am opposed to our downtown becoming like Dallas or Houston. I have lived here 52 years(all my life)and I like a simpler downtown. I am disappointed to see our skyline cluttered with high-rise buildings. To me less is more!

[JRCool]

Whats with the height extension on the Bank of America Tower? Or is that clear box on the top of the building sposed to be something else. That would be really weird if they raised the height of the BOA tower.

[LiveattheOasis]

Why is it that the most liberal city in Texas is extremely conservative when it comes to the changing of their city in any way shape or form? It's ironic I think, a vibrant downtown makes a city and these buildings add to that.
I personally like the design, but I don't think it couldn't be better. I will be happy if this is built though.

[crewer]

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

Why is it that the most liberal city in Texas is extremely conservative when it comes to the changing of their city in any way shape or form? It's ironic I think, a vibrant downtown makes a city and these buildings add to that.
I personally like the design, but I don't think it couldn't be better. I will be happy if this is built though.

Do you all remember when they built GSD&M over near the Whole Foods? Man, people were ragging on the design of that building and saying how much of an eyesore it was. Ironically, no one said a word about what it replaced... an old auto dealership with a used car lot, garage and those brightly colored spinning things on wires above the parking lot. REAL PURDY LIKE!

Many people in Austin don't like change. They see downtown as perfect, so why tinker with perfection?

That said, I agree with you that the building could be better. It's not a design that's unique. I've seen plenty of wedge-shaped buildings in other cities, and they always look to me like a design flaw. But that's one man's opinion.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

Why is it that the most liberal city in Texas is extremely conservative when it comes to the changing of their city in any way shape or form? It's ironic I think, a vibrant downtown makes a city and these buildings add to that.
I personally like the design, but I don't think it couldn't be better. I will be happy if this is built though.

Because liberalism has little to do with adaptability and openmindedness. Indeed, in my hometown of Gainesville, FL, opposition to highrise development comes mainly from the liberal element.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by JRCool

Whats with the height extension on the Bank of America Tower? Or is that clear box on the top of the building sposed to be something else. That would be really weird if they raised the height of the BOA tower.

While I kinda like the International architectural style of the building (the only significant representation of it in Austin), it makes sense to update it, from T-Stacy's perspective. Its part of the same complex, so naturally they would want to blend it in a little better, to compliment the new tower.

I'm guessing this 'crown' would utilize the same glass/exterior as their adjacent landmark high-rise. It could add another 30-40 feet to the height... taking it upwards of 360 feet perhaps. Boy does it look tiny in comparison! It was in my lifetime that the BoA tower was once the tallest in Austin!

[LiveattheOasis]

Originally Posted by Dale

Because liberalism has little to do with adaptability and openmindedness. Indeed, in my hometown of Gainesville, FL, opposition to highrise development comes mainly from the liberal element.

See that's not what is typically represented though. I understand a concern if we start expanding downtown all the way down Town Lake (which we are already starting to do) and there is an environmental concern, but looking at the downtown now, the only problem would be someone simply and nostalgically wanting "their" downtown to always be the way that it was, even as many other small buildings are added.

By the way the design reminds me of a building in New York, the tall white one off, I think, Lexington and 50something? Does anyone know what I am talking about?

[KevinFromTexas]

Here's the article from today, and the renderings are included in today's paper. They also have a few renderings of other projects that Pelli Clarke Pelli has done in other cities at this link.

From the Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/05/11downtown.html

World-renowned architects designing Austin high-rise

Tower at Fifth and Congress could be city's tallest.

By Shonda Novak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 11, 2006

A renowned architectural firm that created one of the world's tallest buildings is designing what could become Austin's tallest high-rise — a sleek, flared glass tower that would dramatically alter downtown's skyline.

The mixed-use tower being designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects is set to rise 47 stories on the northeast corner of Fifth Street and Congress Avenue, next to the 26-story Bank of America building. Senior principals Cesar Pelli and Fred Clarke and firm principal Bill Butler will lead the design team.

Austin developer Tom Stacy plans to break ground by mid-2007.

The City of Austin Planning Commission recommended a zoning change Tuesday that would allow Stacy to build a tower with more than 1 million square feet. Planning Commissioner Cid Galindo praised the project for its "vision and audacity."

The zoning request next goes to the City Council, which has the final say.

The Fifth & Congress tower — preliminarily named after its location — is one in a string of dramatic designs for the architectural firm.

The firm designed the landmark twin 89-story Petronas Towers in Malaysia, which soar 1,483 feet skyward. It was the tallest structure in the world when it was built in 1998. It's now the second-tallest.

Other projects designed by the New Haven, Conn.-based firm include the Museum of Modern Art and Museum Tower in New York, the 41-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Tokyo, the Reagan Washington National Airport and the 31-story Torre Libertad tower in Mexico City.

Both Clarke and Butler have Texas ties: Clarke is a graduate of the University of Texas' School of Architecture, and Butler is a San Antonio native and a Rice University graduate.

They, along with Cesar Pelli, also worked on projects at Rice University and the master plan for the UT campus.

For the Fifth & Congress tower, Stacy's instructions to the architects were straightforward: "Design me the prettiest building you can for this site," said Elizabeth Christian, a spokeswoman for Stacy.

Said Stacy: "These guys have been developing buildings for the past 20 years, and we have the opportunity to bring that experience, creativity and expertise to Austin."

Local architect Jack Tisdale of Susman Tisdale Gayle connected Stacy with Pelli Clarke Pelli, he said.

The result will be a high-rise that is "a world-class building molded to fit the culture, needs and desires of the Austin community," Stacy said. "This is not New York City, Malaysia or Hong Kong. The project has to embrace the vision of the community for that location." Preliminary designs call for the tower to rise up to 700 feet, housing 925,000 square feet of condominiums, retail space and offices or a hotel. The building could be in a rivalry for the title of the city's tallest: another developer plans a condominium tower several blocks away that also could be up to 700 feet tall.

Stacy plans 180 to 200 condominiums priced at $500 to $600 a square foot, putting the average unit, 1,150 square feet, at up to almost $700,000 — in line with many of downtown's newer condos. The condos will be on the tower's top floors, starting above the height of the Bank of America building.

Included in the project is a 12-story parking garage with 1,200 spaces at Fifth and Brazos streets. Stacy hopes to start construction on it later this year. Even though it is recommending approval of the tower, the Planning Commission postponed action on the garage to ex- plore concerns raised by residents of the nearby Brazos Lofts.

Stacy said he is considering putting moderately priced apartments atop the garage, although that may not be economically feasible because of downtown's high land prices.

[KevinFromTexas]

Doublepost.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by LiveattheOasis

By the way the design reminds me of a building in New York, the tall white one off, I think, Lexington and 50something? Does anyone know what I am talking about?

Could it possibly be this building?
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=114152


^ Citigroup Center - 915 feet - 59 floors - 1977

The sloped roof though on Citigroup Center is much more intense...it's a 160 feet high. It was originally designed that way to support solar panels to generate electricity for the building. It also stands on stilts. This was done so that the tower could stand over a church. The church's original building was demolished, and the developer build a new church for them and also built the office tower, around and over the new church building. Leave it to New York to be able to find an inch. By the way, it's located at Lexington & 53rd.

[LiveattheOasis]

That would be the one, thanks Kevin.

[bluedogok]

A large segment of the population here wishes it was still 1973......