Austin Projects & Construction

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

The museum-condo building looks awesome.. but there's inadequate parking in it.

I agree that these could be preliminary renderings of the T.Stacy/Pelli Clarke Pelli AMOA development. However, there were several other groups who submitted proposals to AMOA.

If you notice, the museum component looks similar to AMOA's 2001, Richard Gluckman-designed (Gluckman Mayner Architects), ~$45 million, 125,000 s/f building - just slightly more than half that size, now (~75,000 s/f). This is not much of a surprise to me, since AMOA has already spent $13 million in architectural fees and land purchases for the original structure.

Visit Gluckman Mayner's website; click on projects; then click on museums - the AMOA project is still there and you can view several renderings.

Additionally, I believe that all of the parking for this project is to be place below-grade...

[crewer]

Originally Posted by jmanh

Actually I am almost 52, but thanks for the compliment. I would have appreciated it more if this had resulted from a face-to-face meeting as opposed to a reading of my post.

Jmanh, my "convincing" comment by someone over 50 rather than under 30 was directed toward the pro-Austin population in general rather than you personally. I'm often hearing people boast about how absolutely wonderful downtown Austin is, but that's often coming from the perspective of younger people who love spending time on 6th Street or the Warehouse District soaking in the live entertainment and clubs. From the standpoint of someone who is exactly your age (51, even though we look a lot younger), I no longer see that as an asset that would draw me to want to live downtown.

You mentioned downtown Austin's "other positive attributes". I'm not sure what those are offhand or if they would be positive enough to sway retirees to buy into downtown. But, I'll be very curious to see how Austin redefines its downtown as a focal point for ALL ages as it pushes through on redevelopment.

[jmanh]

Originally Posted by crewer

You mentioned downtown Austin's "other positive attributes". I'm not sure what those are offhand or if they would be positive enough to sway retirees to buy into downtown. But, I'll be very curious to see how Austin redefines its downtown as a focal point for ALL ages as it pushes through on redevelopment.

Crewer, I agree with you that Downtown Austin is not all that great presently. I recently walked around there one morning and I couldn't help but thinking kind of depressingly -- "My gosh there's a lot of work that needs to be done." To put it mildly, as one critic stated: the place lacks "intensity and focus."

But I think that the city is now committed to improving downtown. I was impressed recently by the mayor working diligently on doing something about the ugly post office and wasted space on Guadalupe. I just get the feeling that the city has adopted a very critical attitude towards the area, are fully aware of its various deficiencies, and are now motivated to do something about it.

If you haven't done so already, I recommend taking a look at the July report on the city's downtown initiatives which is accessibly from the city's website. There's a lot coming down the pipe -- a good deal of which I was unaware of, for example, the development of an empalnade along the south side of Cesar Chavez. I have confidence that in the next decade we'll see a much improved area -- maybe even nice enough to retire to.

[MichaelB]

OH PLEASE let that be the AMOA proposal. That would be great. I know the director of AMOA will not let it be a boring place. Build it. Build it.

[StoOgE]

Its gotta be the AMOA, look at the file name. Its got AMOA in the file name. My guess is these pics are on someones server who is involved in the project, and they likely dont know they are in a public folder.. so someone should right click save these things

[KevinFromTexas]

I certainly do hope that is meant for Austin. Anyone know of another museum in another city that also has the initials 'AMOA'? Atlanta perhaps? Oh man, I hope this is for Austin.

I love that design, sleek, clean and urban. I love the overhangs, the dark blue and the brown look great together. I like the plaza also. And the base looks good too. I counted 28 to 29 floors. I really like it, it reminds me of the W Hotel in Dallas. Very nice.

[LiveattheOasis]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I certainly do hope that is meant for Austin. Anyone know of another museum in another city that also has the initials 'AMOA'? Atlanta perhaps? Oh man, I hope this is for Austin.

I love that design, sleek, clean and urban. I love the overhangs, the dark blue and the brown look great together. I like the plaza also. And the base looks good too. I counted 28 to 29 floors. I really like it, it reminds me of the W Hotel in Dallas. Very nice.

I immediately thought W Hotel in Dallas when I saw it. The brown rectangles add a whole lot to the design I think.

[Strayone]

This is a great design, if it is the final design for the AMOA it will be very popular and in demand. Only T Stacey is better. By the way StOOge I kinda like the design for 2nd and Congress. But I respect your opinion. I suspect they will publish the AMOA rendering soon to a very positive response. To the powers that be... Oh please can we have this, please?

[Jdawgboy]

I like the design of of that building but I wish it was taller, that would look really good if it was at least 10 stories higher. But its still good.

[GoldenBoot]

It looks as if Benchmark Land Development, Inc. is getting a bit more serious about its plans for a 48-story, 700’ condo tower at 2nd & Congress.


Austin American Statesman-Business Section
Austin Inc.
Friday, August 11, 2006

What was that blimp doing hovering above Second Street and Congress Avenue on Thursday?

With a remote-controlled digital still camera, it was taking photos of the downtown skyline for the developer of a planned condominium high-rise that will be at least 40 stories.

Austin-based Benchmark Development hired Blimp Photo to take panoramic pictures of downtown to show prospective buyers the views from various levels of the building, Benchmark Vice President David Mahn said.

The company plans to open a sales office in about three months to start marketing the estimated 200 units. Benchmark hopes to start the project during the second quarter of 2007.

Blimp Photo handles about a dozen such jobs a year and has photographed "viewsheds," snapshots from a fixed vantage point, for several high-rises in New York, owner Gary Lockhart said. He said the company has done similar work for other Austin downtown projects.

[LiveattheOasis]

Maybe I am speaking too soon, but what was all this talk about the real estate boom ending (knock on wood). This is great news, it really sounds like Benchmark is trying to beat T Stacy to the punch. The competition between them just might make both a reality.

[OfCourse]

Hey guys, look what I ran into!

03 February 2006
austin museum of art proposal.
good fulton & farrell gets some pretty cool projects. i had the opportunity a last weekend to work on the Austin Museum of Art + Condo tower project that we are currently trying to get hired for. my favorite thing about the project is the program : 3 story art museum as a plinth for a 25 story condominium tower. this is a typology that really has a lot of merit, and sounds like a great deal for the museum, who plans to use revenue from the condos as funding for their collection. or something like that, i'm not really clear about the little details since i became involved with the project on a thursday and it was due in austin by noon on monday. it turned out to be a really nice proposal and i got to work on it with the design boss, David Farrell, as well as the other hot shot designers in the office (that was for you, Lance, just in case you read this). my contribution was generating the renderings below.

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:goT...dblank&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&ie=UTF-8

[LoneStarMike]

I found this news item that gives some additional details on Block 21 and the W Hotel that I don't think has been mentioned in this thread. I believe this is where our most recent rendering of the W Hotel came from.

Building News for July 2006��

Austin Approves Downtown Mixed-Use Project

Block 21 will be the first commercial development in downtown Austin to seek LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council and includes plans for the second tallest building in downtown Austin.

Andersson-Wise, BOKA Powell Designing Block 21

Andersson-Wise Architects of Austin, in association with BOKA Powell of Dallas, is designing a 29-story, mixed-use development for the Block 21 project in downtown Austin.

Designs are under way for Austin's Block 21 project, in the heart of Austin's vibrant new 2nd Street District. The development includes plans for a 29-story destination W hotel and condominium tower with street level restaurants, retail space, a 1000-person recording studio for Austin City Limits and a 30,000 sq. ft. space for the Dell Discovery/Austin Children's Museum. The Austin City Council approved the overall plan for the project, which is being developed by Austin-based Stratus Properties. Andersson-Wise Architects of Austin in association with BOKA Powell of Dallas, are proceeding with final design, and construction is slated to begin in early 2007 with completion in 2009.

Block 21 will be the first commercial development in downtown Austin to achieve LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Green roofs and a landscaped plaza on the mezzanine will make for a 70 percent green site with minimal "heat island" effect. Deep, recessed balconies and broad extrusions will shade the south and west-facing elevations of the tower.

Block 21's varied uses have been organized to make destinations along all four sides of the site. Entry to the W and its "living room," restaurant and bar are located on the plaza along Lavaca Street, creating an environment that will be active both night and day.

The Dell Discovery/Austin Children's Museum lobby defines the northwest quadrant of the block, with adjacencies to the Austin Museum of Art site across the street and a broad exposure along Guadalupe street. The east and west corners of the site are occupied by large retail spaces. This adds up to a project that literally has no 'back door," but rather a commitment to defining an energetic pedestrian streetscape on each of the four sides of the block.

BTW, here's the same rendering enlarged:



I like it.

[KevinFromTexas]

^ That building will never be the 2nd tallest unless they tack on a 100 foot spire.

The list, the heights that are in bold are estimated. Dates are completion dates for completed buildings. Some of these that haven't broken ground yet are subject to change as the project moves along.

Built
Approved/proposed
Under construction

The top 30 tallest.

1--501 Congress/T. Stacy Tower - 705 feet - 47 floors - Start - 2nd quarter of 2007 - Completion - 2009
2--200 Congress/Benchmark Tower - 700 feet - 48 floors - Start - mid-2007 - Completion - 2009
3--360 Condominiums - 581 feet - 44 floors - Start - 2006 - Completion - 2008
4--Frost Bank Tower - 515 feet - 33 floors - 2004
5--Spring - 450 feet - 36 floors - Start - 2007 - Completion - 2009, (Ground breaking expected next February).
6--101 Colorado/MetLife Tower - 415 feet - 36 floors - Start - mid-2006 - Completion - 2008
7--Four Seasons Residences - 410 feet - 35 floors - Start - 2nd quarter of 2007 - Completion - 2009
8--Block 21 Tower - 402 feet - 32 floors - Start - early 2007 - Completion - 2009
9--One American Center - 395 feet - 32 floors - 1982
10--One Congress Plaza - 391 feet - 30 floors - 1987
11--Austin Hilton Convention Center Hotel - 377 feet - 31 floors - 2004
12--Red River Residential Tower - 375 feet - 30 floors - Start - 2007 - Completion - 2010
13--Red River Hotel Tower - 375 feet - 30 floors - Start - 2007 - Completion - 2010
14--Museum/Condo Tower project - 375 feet - 30 floors - Start - ????
15--Dobie Center - 367 feet - 29 floors - 1972
16--603 Davis Street - 339 feet - 29 floors - Start - 2006 - Completion - 2007
17--Bank of America Center - 329 feet - 25 floors - 1975
18--300 West Sixth - 325 feet - 23 floors - 2002
19--Chase Tower - 325 feet - 21 floors - 1974
20--100 Congress - 320 feet - 22 floors - 1987
21--The Monarch - 314 feet - 29 floors - Start - 2006 - Completion - 2007
22--Texas State Capitol - 311 feet - 4 floors - 1888
23--Legacy @ Town Lake - 310 feet - 27 floors - Start - ????
24--San Jacinto Center - 310 feet - 21 floors - 1987
25--University of Texas Tower - 307 feet - 1937
26--301 Congress - 306 feet - 22 floors - 1986
27--Marriott Convention Center Hotel - 300 feet - 26 floors - Start - 2007 - Completion - 2009
28--Fairfield Residential Hyatt Site - 275 feet - 25 floors - Start - ????
29--Westgate Tower - 261 feet - 25 floors - 1967
30--The Shore - 251 feet - 22 floors - Start - 2006 - Completion - 2008




Notice that the 9th and 10th tallest buildings in that list were our tallest and 2nd tallest buildings just 3 1/2 years ago. We're basically doubling our top 15 tallest!


EDIT: here you go 21bl0wed, I knew I should have included them.

[21bl0wed]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

^ That building will never be the 2nd tallest unless they tack on a 100 foot spire.

The list, the heights that are in bold are estimated. Dates are completion dates.

1--501 Congress/T. Stacy Tower - 705 feet - 47 floors - 2009
2--200 Congress/Benchmark Tower - 700 feet - 48 floors - 2009
3--360 Condominiums - 581 feet - 44 floors - 2008, (under construction)
4--Frost Bank Tower - 515 feet - 33 floors - 2004
5--Spring - 450 feet - 36 floors - 2009
6--101 Colorado/MetLife Tower - 415 feet - 36 floors - 2008
7--Four Seasons Residences - 410 feet - 35 floors - 2009
8--Block 21 Tower - 402 feet - 32 floors - 2009
9--One American Center - 395 feet - 32 floors - 1982
10--One Congress Plaza - 391 feet - 30 floors - 1987

Notice that the 9th and 10th tallest buildings in that list were our tallest and 2nd tallest buildings just 3 1/2 years ago.

Neat list, is there any way you can add the dates of when construction is expected to start on some of those projects?

[StoOgE]

The W Hotel is the 2nd tallest building if you only count those that are built. I.E. its smaller than Frost, but taller than One American.

I also agree, that list is so impressive.. the view from the patio at six is going to be very cool 5 years from now.

[atx001]

Every time I go by the block I wonder how they are going to manage getting all of those venues (Children's museum, City limits etc...) into the base of the building?

[LoneStarMike]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

9--One American Center - 395 feet - 32 floors - 1982
10--One Congress Plaza - 391 feet - 30 floors - 1987

Notice that the 9th and 10th tallest buildings in that list were our tallest and 2nd tallest buildings just 3 1/2 years ago.

Heck, when I moved here (July 1982) Austin's tallest building wasn't even downtown. I believe it was Dobie Center.

The two tallest buildings downtown were the Austin National Bank (Now Bank of America) and the American Bank Tower (Now Chase.)

Austin's skyline has certainly changed over the last 25 years -- not to mention the names of most of our financial institutions.

[KevinFromTexas]

An invitation to Austin's new skyscraper forum.

With the suggestion and help from WTx, I've started a new forum for Austin. Big thanks to WTx for the help, I appreciate it.

The next couple of years are going to be big for Austin and with that many tower cranes flying over downtown, this city needs a forum dedicated to it.

Feel free to make suggestions. Maybe adding more sections, or if you need help with anything, just let me know. I want your input on it. Thanks.

Check it out here:
http://austinforum.8.forumer.com/

[Jdawgboy]

Just a quick update on 360, they got a large red crawler crane in place and it looks like they are about to assemble and put up the blue crane this week.