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

[lonewolf]

100% an original idea over here lol

yeah i agree they could improve slightly the traffic but the 35project is being sold to public within the "traffic frame" per se and not the "property taxes" frame which IMO is the more accurate lense with which to view the project

whereas i sell the bury cesar chavez project under the "property tax" frame but really I just want a walkable city center

IMO burying 35 does not create an obvious walkable plan for austin. yes, i agree it would be better but the location is kind of a dead mans zone (bc its a hwy currently)

taking an artery (waterfront no less) that ALREADY cuts through an urban area seems to be the smarter first play. and if it don't work the "whoops at least we didn't try 35 first" and if it does work then "great now lets do 35"

[corvairkeith]

[Echostatic]

The stepbacks are starting to show up with the office levels. I am starting to get really excited about this one!

[corvairkeith]

The curve of the West side is also starting to become apparent.

[the Genral]

If my floor count is correct, just imagine 23 more floors stacked on what's already there. You can get a idea of just how tall this is going to be. The view from SRV is going to be amazing. It already is.
Do we have a render of what the north side is going to look like? And one more question, is that the last tall building for that quadrant of downtown?

[KevinFromTexas]

I don't remember seeing any renderings from the north side of it.

And I've always assumed that the Ballet Austin building would eventually be replaced with something tall.

[KevinFromTexas]

These are the best ones I've seen that kinda sorta show the north side.

[the Genral]

Thanks Kevin. Its kind of like the north side of North Shore. Best sides from best to not best, imo, west, north, east, south. I actually don't care much for all the step backs. I think I'll have to go back to the Library after this is done, but I think this may block what used to be a pretty cool view towards the east. Its going to kind of be in your face, not necessarily a bad thing because its almost....artistic.

[The ATX]

It's going to be strange not having anything to discuss about this corner of downtown after about 14 years of major projects going up. The Republic site is on the edge of that area and is the best hope for an additional tower.

[Riverranchdrone]

Great pictures. You must have gotten out there before the dust came in.

[KevinFromTexas]

I was just thinking of that crown/penthouse screen, and it's going to be pretty dramatic when viewed from along 2nd Street near Congress, especially in the afternoon with the sunlight comes through it. And then there's the lighting.

[tie_guy]

Glass is going up! From today October 13th

[gillynova]

Here we go ladies and gentlemen

[the Genral]

This is what happens when you get a quality, no compromise architect. This is how you disguise the inevitable parking podium. This is how you maintain continuity from base to roof. This is how you please my ridiculous standards. This is how you build a world class building Austin deserves. This is how you make me say "this is how" 5 times.

[clubtokyo]

Yay! So exciting!

[drummer]

Originally Posted by the Genral

This is what happens when you get a quality, no compromise architect. This is how you disguise the inevitable parking podium. This is how you maintain continuity from base to roof. This is how you please my ridiculous standards. This is how you build a world class building Austin deserves. This is how you make me say "this is how" 5 times.

Your ridiculous standards include a parking garage?!

[freerover]

Originally Posted by drummer

Your ridiculous standards include a parking garage?!

Both above and below ground parking garages.

[Riverranchdrone]

Originally Posted by drummer

Your ridiculous standards include a parking garage?!

Priceless!!

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by drummer

Your ridiculous standards include a parking garage?!

My ridiculous standard is hiding the parking garage in the most expensive and aesthetic way possible. This would require mechanical ventilation and the use of the same material as the rest of the building. Very expensive I'm sure. But very anti 3rd and Shoal and Independent's barn yard fencing. I don't buy that all underground parking is a major problem seeing how NYC has found a way so close to the Hudson River, its all about being able to charge enough in rent to offset the costs of doing so, which we can't, yet. Parking podiums are our reality, I expect and demand, haha, that they at least not look like stacked surface parking lots.

[Sigaven]

Originally Posted by the Genral

My ridiculous standard is hiding the parking garage in the most expensive and aesthetic way possible. This would require mechanical ventilation and the use of the same material as the rest of the building. Very expensive I'm sure. But very anti 3rd and Shoal and Independent's barn yard fencing. I don't buy that all underground parking is a major problem seeing how NYC has found a way so close to the Hudson River, its all about being able to charge enough in rent to offset the costs of doing so, which we can't, yet. Parking podiums are our reality, I expect and demand, haha, that they at least not look like stacked surface parking lots.

Frost Bank tower and Austonian have really good parking garage. So do the Silicon Labs buildings.