Austin Projects & Construction - Page 68

JACKinBeantown · #**1341** Posted **Jul 6, 2006, 3:10 PM**

It could serve as a movie screen for the space station crew.

ivanwolf · #**1342** Posted **Jul 6, 2006, 4:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^ I've wondered about that myself. The architecture firm that they've chosen to design the new top, is based in Austin, and has done "green buildings" before. So who knows, it may have solar panels. Austin already has a few such buildings, the convention center does also. And I believe the city hall has some as well. rjlevins, do you know about this? Goldenboot? One of the companies listed at the city's website that worked on city hall was a firm that installs solar panels.

The new City Hall has solar panels. If you look at the seating outside in front of the building it has a covering on it that looks like it is made of glass. Imbeded in the glass are small solar panels about 2" x 4" or so spaced apart to allow some sun through but block most. Also simular use is at the Palmer Events Center Parking Garage. On the top level they have a angled shade with solar panels on them as well. It's great to see these places add this feature. I would think this building would have the same of it just is something to change the look some.

KevinFromTexas · #**1343** Posted **Jul 6, 2006, 8:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanwolf

The new City Hall has solar panels. If you look at the seating outside in front of the building it has a covering on it that looks like it is made of glass. Imbeded in the glass are small solar panels about 2" x 4" or so spaced apart to allow some sun through but block most. Also simular use is at the Palmer Events Center Parking Garage. On the top level they have a angled shade with solar panels on them as well. It's great to see these places add this feature. I would think this building would have the same of it just is something to change the look some.

Welcome to the forum.

Cool, thanks.

Here are two shots of it I took to show what ivanwolf is talking about.

GoldenBoot · #**1344** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:29 AM**

NEW RENDERING OF ZOM'S 29-story, 314' MONARCH PROJECT...

Apartment tower starts its rise into Austin's sky

The rumble of construction equipment is growing on West Fifth Street, where work has begun on Zom USA's 29-story apartment tower that will have a distinctive curved façade.

The Monarch, which will take about two years to complete, is going up at 805 W. Fifth St., the site of the former Miguel's Imports store and across the street from the Austin City Lofts.

It will have 305 apartments ranging from 890 to 2,400 square feet, and street-level shops.

East Façade

For more info. (including who's financing the project), visit the following webpage: http://zomusa.com/pdf/NewsMonarch.pdf

KevinFromTexas · #**1345** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 5:09 AM**

Ah, so it's going to be 314 feet? Not bad at all. The main roof for the Bank of America Center is at 318 feet 9 inches. So this won't be much shorter than that.

EDIT:

You should post this building in "Highrises" since it's begun construction. You have the rendering there and height also so the info about it looks pretty complete now.

ivanwolf · #**1346** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 2:25 PM**

thanks for the welcome KevenFromTexas. Its nice to see a new rendering of the Monarch. The changes in the skyline will be seen soon as the AMLI, 360, and Monarch are all kicking off construction now. I can't wait for the rest to get going.

StoOgE · #**1347** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 3:02 PM**

The projects we started hearing about 2-3 years ago are starting to take off. Lets hope we start to see a steady stream of projects kicking off every couple of months.

GoldenBoot · #**1348** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:07 PM**

FYI - A new, clearer rendering of the W Austin Hotel & Residences...

I'm still not sold on this design. Seems quite boring to me!

greenbelt · #**1349** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:28 PM**

Goldenboot, thanks for the updated Zom and W posts. Yeah, everything's a bit boxy, but it'll give Austin a hip mod look, maybe...

Strayone · #**1350** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:29 PM**

The W's window scheme and lighting may just save a relatively boreing, boxy design. This is what the people at city hall will see everyday. Better than a parking lot though.

MichaelB · #**1351** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

FYI - A new, clearer rendering of the W Austin Hotel & Residences...

I'm still not sold on this design. Seems quite boring to me!

Can you tell me where you found this rendering? I would be interested in other elevations.

I like the modern quality of it...... it will be very dependent on the materials being right....as always, that may make the difference between plain/cheap and elegant and clear..... let's hope for the best. In the meantime I especially like the potential "mid-century" quality the lobby seems to have.

I want to see more!!!!!!!

sc1264 · #**1352** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 4:37 PM**

Are you sure that's not AMLI phase 2, rather than the W (which would be in Block 21)? That looks like the AMLI drawings I've seen in the past. My guess is that the W design will be much better--I'm not holding out high hopes for AMLI, part deaux. Their first building is decent at best.

Jdawgboy · #**1353** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc1264

Are you sure that's not AMLI phase 2, rather than the W (which would be in Block 21)? That looks like the AMLI drawings I've seen in the past. My guess is that the W design will be much better--I'm not holding out high hopes for AMLI, part deaux. Their first building is decent at best.

No, that is the W hotel on Block 21. The AMILI tower is already under construction on Block 22 it will only be 18 stories tall.

StoOgE · #**1354** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 6:59 PM**

I like the design. I like the idea of keeping 2nd street from being "canyonized" as a retail district. Open and airy is a good idea, and this accomplishes that by keeping the tower on 3rd street... and I think the use of lighting and different glass makes it look unique. I want a closeup of the street detail, because I'm really liking what im seeing to this point.

KevinFromTexas · #**1355** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc1264

Are you sure that's not AMLI phase 2, rather than the W (which would be in Block 21)? That looks like the AMLI drawings I've seen in the past. My guess is that the W design will be much better--I'm not holding out high hopes for AMLI, part deaux. Their first building is decent at best.

No, that is the W Austin Hotel & Residences. It will be 402 feet tall with 32 floors. Here is the earlier rendering of it from the newspaper. This building is slated for Block 21, directly north, (behind), the city hall.

And this is the AMLI Phase II tower. It's 224 feet with 18 floors. This building bares a resemblance to the Austin City Lofts in the West End, both buildings were designed by the same architecture firm...Page Southerland Page, of Austin. This building will be at Block 22, directly west of the W Austin Hotel & Residences mentioned above.

I'm liking what I'm seeing also. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Street corridors are really going to be nice in a few years. I can't wait. It'll do wonders to downtown and not to mention give a shot in the arm to our skyline.

By the way, any word on when The Monarch is supposed to be completed? Emporis seems to be working now, so I'll update it's page. I assume in 2008 right?

crewer · #**1356** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 12:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strayone

The W's window scheme and lighting may just save a relatively boreing, boxy design. This is what the people at city hall will see everyday. Better than a parking lot though.

Agreed that lighting may make it a showcase building... at night. I can't figure out the base of the tower. It looks like the tower is on a cantilever. That has to be an illusion.

Xeelee · #**1357** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 1:07 AM**

Not a bad design... but it looks a little flimsy...

atx001 · #**1358** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 1:36 AM**

^I agree,...

...it looks as if there is nothing but a thin glass curtain wall holding up the

entire tower portion, but I'm sure we are not seeing everything. I think this

building has the potential to be really neat or very ugly. The look of the

building feels very minimalist, which is really cool. Take a look at the Modern

Art Museum of Fort Worth (see below), which has a similar minimalist vibe. It

was done by architect Tadao Ando, who in the end put a lot of work into

making the building look good. All I can hope is that the architect does the

same for Block 21.

Pictures of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth...
http://www.themodern.org/slideshow/

crewer · #**1359** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 11:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

...I like the modern quality of it...... it will be very dependent on the materials being right....as always, that may make the difference between plain/cheap and elegant and clear..... let's hope for the best. In the meantime I especially like the potential "mid-century" quality the lobby seems to have.

I agree with you that it has a modern look to it. W Hotels have a very "high-standard" reputation. Go to their website and check out their hotels, and you'll see that they're not one to compromise quality. W HOTELS

My guess is that this building, as boxy as it looks from this rendering, is going to be a pretty amazing structure with beautiful finishings. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

greenbelt · #**1360** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 1:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crewer

I agree with you that it has a modern look to it. W Hotels have a very "high-standard" reputation. Go to their website and check out their hotels, and you'll see that they're not one to compromise quality. W HOTELS

My guess is that this building, as boxy as it looks from this rendering, is going to be a pretty amazing structure with beautiful finishings. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Agree, W Hotels will do it right, it's going to be amazing i'm sure. Any one know if the W brand "Loft hotel" is still slated for the old Bitter End lot? It was going to be more a Hotel San Jose style modern, but more affordable than the W. Have a great weekend everyone.