[Scottolini]

LookingUp?

[MichaelB]

LookingUp?

Oh, yeah.... I think so. I forgot there was a "built in" irony to his name!

[KevinFromTexas]

Taken 7/27

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/445/p1300748edit.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Nice pics Kevin. ^^^

[Mopacs]

Taken 7/27

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/445/p1300748edit.jpg

IMPRESSIVE! The 'A just dominates the skyline. The towering is also noticeable from the Mopac/183 interchange.

[KevinFromTexas]

^I got one from there a few days ago too, plus a few more. I'll post them later tonight.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Do it!!! :cool:

[quattordici]

Wow, very impressive Austin. I'm gonna have to check back here more often.

[Blakesalot!]

Taken 7/27

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/445/p1300748edit.jpg

I like the way the top of 360 looks angled from this perspective. Also, this photo reminds me alot of that composite poster of the "future" Austin that was floating around awhile back.

[TXLove]

That is a nice photo but doesn't Spring look so lonely out there!!!! LOL

[arbeiter]

^I got one from there a few days ago too, plus a few more. I'll post them later tonight.

Do you just take a picture while driving or are you a passenger when you take it?

[AustinSkyscrapers]

^^^Better safe than sorry, better to be the passenger.
Plus that, the Austonian really has 59 floors 3 are in the crown.

[Mopacs]

Do you just take a picture while driving or are you a passenger when you take it?

I will admit something... In one instance I actually stopped my car to grab a few shots. Stupid and dangerous? Probably so... Worth it? Hell yeah.

Actually, there is a large stub near the apex of the flyover, which will eventually continue as the EB Ben White to SB 35 connector... Thus, the equivalent of a very wide shoulder, 12-15 feet + from the traffic, with good visibility and plenty of room for acceleration.

Ok, so it wasn't quite as dangerous as it sounds, but I would obviously not recommend it. If you do, just put on your hazard lights and pretend to be a momentarily stranded motorist. Or better yet, let someone else drive :) Only a skyscraper enthusiast would attempt such a thing.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

/\/\/\ Plus that, a daredevil. :P

[MichaelB]

I will admit something... In one instance I actually stopped my car to grab a few shots. Stupid and dangerous? Probably so... Worth it? Hell yeah.

Actually, there is a large stub near the apex of the flyover, which will eventually continue as the EB Ben White to SB 35 connector... Thus, the equivalent of a very wide shoulder, 12-15 feet + from the traffic, with good visibility and plenty of room for acceleration.

Ok, so it wasn't quite as dangerous as it sounds, but I would obviously not recommend it. If you do, just put on your hazard lights and pretend to be a momentarily stranded motorist. Or better yet, let someone else drive :) Only a skyscraper enthusiast would attempt such a thing.

Mopac, were you texting at the same time???:haha:

[KevinFromTexas]

Do you just take a picture while driving or are you a passenger when you take it?

Passenger. I pretty much never drive. And certainly not if there are any skyline views to be had. That was shot through the windshield. We just washed it before I took the photo, and I cleaned up a few spots in Paint Shop Pro.

[Mopacs]

Mopac, were you texting at the same time???:haha:

NO way. I have to draw the line somewhere! I don't drive while intexicated.
Ok, once at a long traffic light, but that was my GF... so, you know how that goes. During that one-and-only photo-shoot, I kept getting that walmart into my shots. Go figure!

http://images27.fotki.com/v1019/photos/5/54967/2946938/DSCN7873-vi.jpg

[quattordici]

I will admit something... In one instance I actually stopped my car to grab a few shots. Stupid and dangerous? Probably so... Worth it? Hell yeah.

Actually, there is a large stub near the apex of the flyover, which will eventually continue as the EB Ben White to SB 35 connector... Thus, the equivalent of a very wide shoulder, 12-15 feet + from the traffic, with good visibility and plenty of room for acceleration.

Ok, so it wasn't quite as dangerous as it sounds, but I would obviously not recommend it. If you do, just put on your hazard lights and pretend to be a momentarily stranded motorist. Or better yet, let someone else drive :) Only a skyscraper enthusiast would attempt such a thing.

Only people like us in these forums would consider it worth it to stop on a flyover and take a picture of a skyline. Haha, we're probably also the only people that would think of it... :haha:

[arbeiter]

Mopacs, I figured as much, because it's really hard to get a relatively straight, no-bugs-on-the-windshield photo while driving otherwise, even if the passenger is taking it.

I haven't done that yet, mostly because my new car is still sometimes tough to maneuver with the A/C on going up a steep grade (it's a Mazda Miata with original 1.6 liter engine, so not a speed demon). But when I do, you can bet i'll take it to its natural conclusion and attempt a 5-7 second night exposure!

[arbeiter]

Heck, I still am having a bit of a time figuring out my camera. It has so many autofocus features that I often pick the wrong combination. I also have a hard time figuring out how to "ok" the manual zoom and make it stick, so I end up with 10 second exposures focused at 50cm when I meant to do infinity.

this is clearly not a problem with tripod stability or wind:

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1476.JPG

this is getting good, but I still find the detail of the skyline itself to be too grainy.

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1478.JPG

This one's also nice.

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1483.JPG

Click here for the original file at 4416x3312 (http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1483-1.JPG)

Here's the same thing at 16:10 and cropped into the middle 50% or so

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1483-2.JPG

Here's a very zoomed in skyline image of Austin from the 360 "Scenic Overlook". (http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1487.JPG) The original size of the file was 4416x3312, and this is 3982x1234.

Here's a slimmed down one.

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1487-1.JPG

I really want to make these more clearer but don't know yet what I am doing wrong. A lot of the times it's just luck. My old Pentax rarely missed a good shot, if I took the time to compose the frame etc. But the automatic "night" feature was rarely wrong.

[H2O]

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1487-1.JPG

I really want to make these more clearer but don't know yet what I am doing wrong. A lot of the times it's just luck. My old Pentax rarely missed a good shot, if I took the time to compose the frame etc. But the automatic "night" feature was rarely wrong.

Fantastic photos!

I'm hardly an expert on digital photography, but in general it looks to me like the brighter lit objects (Capitol & Frost) are over exposed. In the old days you could fix that in the dark room with masking and burning different exposures.

I suspect it is much easier now. You might be able to adjust by averaging the meter, or like the old days, taking multiple exposures and combining the properly exposed parts in Photoshop. I believe this is essentially how HDR works.

[KevinFromTexas]

Check out the General Photography Chat thread.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=167255

I'm not totally sure what to say. Those don't look all that bad, but I'm not sure how you would make the buildings less grainy. I like the 3rd one best. The buildings seem to be at just the right exposure. Frost is so hard to get just right. Most of our skyline is still pretty dark really, but then you have this one building that just glows. If you want the other buildings to show up well, then it leaves Frost blown out. The Capitol and UT Tower too. There's hardly an easy way around it. I have Paint Shop Pro, and it has a feature that lets you adjust the different light levels. Shadow, medium light and highlights. You can adjust each of those pretty much separately.

[priller]

One thing you can do for night shots is set your aperture very small (high f-number, like f/16 - f32). That makes it a longer exposure, which allows more light to accumulate in the darker areas. That will narrows the differences between the darker and lighter areas.

It also helps to take the photo before it gets completely dark.

The only downside to using tiny aperture is that point lights turn into big stars. But even that can look cool some times.

This one was taken at f/32 for 20 sec:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/814825284_746b09023e_o.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Nice picture priller.

[Mopacs]

Gorgeous shot Priller. Frost exposure is flawless.

[KevinFromTexas]

7/27

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5140/p1300712edit.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/1070/p1300713edit.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8535/p1300716edit3.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6982/p1300722edit.jpg

From 183 at Mopac.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2701/p1300724edit.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7595/p1300727edit.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4994/p1300760edit.jpg

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4051/p1300790edit.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7751/p1300797edit.jpg

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2360/p1300820edit.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1401/p1300827edit.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1359/p1300847edit.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4143/p1300858edit.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9485/p1300862edit.jpg

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3523/p1300868edit.jpg

I wonder what the story is behind this building?
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9898/p1300869edit.jpg

The Perry-Brooks Building. It looks completely different.
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3741/p1300874edit.jpg

He was going to that standoff on Mopac where the guy was threatening to kill himself.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7708/p1300881edit.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/750/p1300883edit.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1724/p1300884edit.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2733/p1300900edit.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8263/p1300913edit.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3180/p1300930edit.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5109/p1300933edit.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3303/p1300955edit.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/190/p1300962edit.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7532/p1300965edit.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/875/p1300968edit2.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/3669/p1300973edit.jpg

[the Genral]

Great pics. Frost is playing an important role in keeping the Austonian in balance, otherwise it may seem way out of place, a giant among dwarfs.

[priller]

A few from yesterday morning:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3791627623_4bffb951ef_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2501/3791628127_bdd7851c64_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3792441354_9526d8898f_o.jpg


From N. Lamar. More wires!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3792441698_a262f4c30f_o.jpg

[MichaelB]

OOOOH Priller!!! Photo # 2 well framed! Post card perfect!

[KevinFromTexas]

Definitely. Both of those are nice, but the 2nd is just perfect!

Here's a few more I forgot from a few days ago (8/2).

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8372/p1310086edit.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7897/p1310102edit.jpg

Another wow view showing just how much taller The Austonian is.
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/96/p1310107edit.jpg

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6739/p1310112edit.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5233/p1310122edit.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7253/p1310125edit.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3161/p1310130edit.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/230/p1310138edit.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9803/p1310144edit.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9483/p1310150edit.jpg

Ashton is so short. ;)
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8728/p1310153edit.jpg

[NThomas]

Great pics guys. Priller's second pic looks amazing now, but you can just see where the W is going to fill in the hole between 360 and Ashton.

[hookem]

Wow, great views from the drag, Kevin. Love how the Austonian is starting to loom from new angles like that. And the Squidbillies billboard! Adult Swim is very cool.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3161/p1310130edit.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

^^^Love to be on the balcony on one of the high residential floors.

[SecretAgentMan]

Two new hotels are being proposed for Downtown. One at 5th and Colorado next to Antone's, and the other on the 1/4 block parking lot at 3rd and San Jacinto across from the original 21 C site. Both parcels are small and they both have submitted zoning applications for additional FAR, so they will probably be fairly tall.

[MichaelB]

Two new hotels are being proposed for Downtown. One at 5th and Colorado next to Antone's, and the other on the 1/4 block parking lot at 3rd and San Jacinto across from the original 21 C site. Both parcels are small and they both have submitted zoning applications for additional FAR, so they will probably be fairly tall.

Good info. Thanks. Any idea of "brand".

5th and Colorado next to Antone's? That would be Lucky Lounge,etc.....or the office building that actually sits on the corner of 5th and Colorado? Antones is on 5th and Lavaca, yes?

[arbeiter]

Hate to be a grouch, but let's find something other than freeway drive by skyline shots to photograph!

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, I generally don't like highway pics, but they are showing a major view, even if they aren't whimsical and pretty.

Good to hear about the hotels, I just hope they aren't cheap suburban quality.

[PartyLine]

What's the status of the 21c project on Waller Creek?

[MichaelB]

Good to hear about the hotels, I just hope they aren't cheap suburban quality.

Amen to that!

[MichaelB]

What's the status of the 21c project on Waller Creek?

On hold. They still own the property, but have the original property ( the Whitley property) up for sale.

Their property in Louisville is dead as well. Evidently some projects in the company are happening, so maybe there is some hope. One good sign is that they don't seem to be in a hurry to pull all their art out of the space at 6th and congress.!

[breathesgelatin]

Two new hotels are being proposed for Downtown. One at 5th and Colorado next to Antone's, and the other on the 1/4 block parking lot at 3rd and San Jacinto across from the original 21 C site. Both parcels are small and they both have submitted zoning applications for additional FAR, so they will probably be fairly tall.

Oh yay!! I love replacing parking lots. GET RID OF 'EM ALL!!!!

[PartyLine]

That's too bad would be a nice addition to the Waller Creek project when it's finished haven't heard anything about it either lol.

[78705]

Does anyone know if something interesting is happening at the NE corner of 5th and Brazos? I was walking by on Wednesday and a backhoe was tearing up the parking lot that was there...

[NormalgeNyus]

i think that was covered a few posts ago

[Scottolini]

That's too bad would be a nice addition to the Waller Creek project when it's finished haven't heard anything about it either lol.
Waller Creek Tunnel Project moves into final design
Pre-design of the Waller Creek Tunnel Project (Phase B-1), which included survey work, geotechnical studies, physical modeling, and public outreach, has drawn to a close, and the project has entered into the final design phase. Over the next year, the Joint Venture (JV) consultants of Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc. and Espey Consultants, Inc. will begin providing the City’s project team with drawings and renderings for review and technical evaluation. Design of this large project is separated into distinct packages, which include a Parks and Recreation Department boathouse adjacent to Lady Bird lake, the tunnel itself, the inlet, the outlet, and two creek side inlets located between 4th and 5th and 8th and 9th streets. The design phase is expected to continue through January 2010 and will be followed by, pending final approvals and permitting, a bid and award phase. Actual construction is anticipated to begin in 2010 and be complete in 2014.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/wallercreek/

[Jdawgboy]

I hope they don't tear down Red Fez for this hotel. I hope its that corner across from Antones.

[MichaelB]

I hope they don't tear down Red Fez for this hotel. I hope its that corner across from Antones.

Ding! I drove past there today. There is also a parking lot Next to Redfez/lucky lounge. I agree thought.....please don't tear down anymore warehouses. I am still pissed that the city is allowing the building Gingerman was last in to be torn down..... and yet won't let the travis house be torn down. Whaaaa?

[Jdawgboy]

Well, something is wrong at the Star Riverside project right there on I-35. The red crane is gone, I was suprised to drive by on my way home this afternoon and it was nowhere to be found. Any news on whats going on? My thinking is that project has hit the end of the road but it seems pretty sudden.

[TXAlex]

Well, something is wrong at the Star Riverside project right there on I-35. The red crane is gone, I was suprised to drive by on my way home this afternoon and it was nowhere to be found. Any news on whats going on? My thinking is that project has hit the end of the road but it seems pretty sudden.

Maybe they have opped for a less expensive crane?

[Raining Inside]

I saw that the crane was down too. I drove by it pretty quick today, but it looked like the site was empty - not just a missing crane.

[Myomi]

Yea I drive by there almost everyday and I was going to post on here that I haven't seen progress on the site for a few weeks now. Taking into account the shady way they were selling the actual units (online auction), I am not at all surprised at the fact that this project has run into trouble. I just hope its not dead...but taking down the crane is a good sign that it is. Even when the Lavaca project was delayed, they still kept the crane up. Hopefully, if it is dead, they have to fill in that pit. Otherwise we are going to have a ugly open pit right by I-35 right as it leads into downtown. Maybe they can turn it into a park, after years of hilarious bureaucratic wrangling of course.

[priller]

Photos from yesterday and this morning:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3802289577_7be9bd0f40_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/3802292511_728cae4d24_o.jpg


The old bank is gone at 5th and Brazos. But so is the backhoe, so no telling what will happen next.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/3803104342_bf15041987_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3802289325_6c37425d09_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3803105202_54790321dc_o.jpg

Looks like the parking garage is one of those pre-fab things.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3803105582_fa86b1b3ec_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/3803506583_390479f9b1_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3803106218_9e71756b55_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3803106646_b0992af16c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3803107584_5d5ef22d7b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/3802291737_da61cf5357_o.jpg


Capitol, with the new church parking garage in front, Fondren far back on the right.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/3803507331_71acdf437e_o.jpg


No construction in this one, I just thought the clouds were cool:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3804320682_3ca635b07a_o.jpg

[LoneStarMike]

:previous: Those first two shots look like renderings.

Here's a few from behind the Hobby Lobby at Brodie Oaks Shopping Center near Ben White and S. Lamar just after the sun had set tonight.

Skyline
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/BrodieOaks01.jpg


Zoomed in a little more
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/BrodieOaks02.jpg


Zoomed in more. (Can you imagine this view if the T. Stacy project ever got built?)
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/BrodieOaks03.jpg


Frost and Austonian
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/BrodieOaks04.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Thanks priller and Mopacs for the photos. I have been off for a while because of well, homework. You know, I'm an Asian...

[arbeiter]

That's funny, I took a picture at the same spot (Brodie Oaks back lot) on Friday:

http://mattrut.com/files/images/IMG_1789.JPG

[LoneStarMike]

:previous: Wow - you were so close you could have thrown a rock and hit my apartment. BTW, I like your version much better than mine. :)

[KevinFromTexas]

As Spring opens its doors, another condo project is delayed
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/2009/08/12/0812condos.html

Just southeast of downtown, however, work has temporarily stopped on the Star Riverside condominium project at Interstate 35 and East Riverside Drive.

Eugene Marchese, president of developer Constellation Property Group, cited the economic downturn for the stoppage. But he also said the two- to three-month hiatus will give him a chance to continue to redesign the project to include more lower-priced units to meet a changed market.

[priller]

As always, the comments are the best part of the article. Here's a good one.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Austin's condo chickens are coming home to roost! I hope all the "urban density" nutjobs choke when they see articles like this one.

Who you callin' a "nutjob", nutjob?

[AustinSkyscrapers]

I've been wondering what the view from the 55th/56th floors would be like. If anyone is brave enough to check that out...

[MichaelB]

As always, the comments are the best part of the article. Here's a good one.



Who you callin' a "nutjob", nutjob?

Which article is that from Priller?

[shanny]

I've been wondering what the view from the 55th/56th floors would be like. If anyone is brave enough to check that out...

how could we? theres been no mention of a topping out party like there was for the halfway point.

[KevinFromTexas]

As always, the comments are the best part of the article. Here's a good one.


BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Austin's condo chickens are coming home to roost! I hope all the "urban density" nutjobs choke when they see articles like this one.


Who you callin' a "nutjob", nutjob?


I hope they like choking on car exhaust! Maybe they do?

[KevinFromTexas]

how could we? theres been no mention of a topping out party like there was for the halfway point.

Supposedly you can. I had seen a photo taken from the building on Flickr, I asked the person, and they said they will let you up. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

[KevinFromTexas]

8/10

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7177/p1320039edit.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1207/p1320041edit.jpg

Once the W gets up to about the 20th floor, there will be just 2 skyscrapers here that would have existed before 2000. One American Center and 301 Congress are visible also which existed before that year, but they're only partially visible. This a very different skyline than it was in 1999. At first glance, it would be nearly unrecognizable.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9190/p1320044edit.jpg

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8444/p1320042edit.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9087/p1320045edit.jpg

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9499/p1320046edit.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/79/p1320048edit.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9796/p1320049edit.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2189/p1320052edit.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2391/p1320053edit.jpg

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6734/p1320057edit.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7613/p1320059edit.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1632/p1320062edit.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3821/p1320067edit.jpg

[priller]

n/t

[LoneStarMike]

Nice photos, Kevin. The last one (with the fountain) is my favorite.

[PartyLine]

My Favorite buildings have always been San Jacinto Center and 111 Congress

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Looks like the Austonian ties with Frosty as my favorite buildings.

Thanks for braving the heat too!

[KevinFromTexas]

100 Congress and One American Center have always been favorites of mine. I love the classiness of One American Center. It was a good tallest building. And while I don't like that 100 Congress didn't add much to the street life of Congress, it did wonders for the skyline both day and night. And you have to admit, it has a pretty nice plaza. Plus it didn't gobble up the whole block or have an above ground parking garage. One American Center doesn't either, but the way the driveway is into the garage, it does eat up some space.

[PartyLine]

San Jacinto has an underground parking garage :)

[JAM]

100 Congress and One American Center have always been favorites of mine. I love the classiness of One American Center. It was a good tallest building. And while I don't like that 100 Congress didn't add much to the street life of Congress, it did wonders for the skyline both day and night. And you have to admit, it has a pretty nice plaza. Plus it didn't gobble up the whole block or have an above ground parking garage. One American Center doesn't either, but the way the driveway is into the garage, it does eat up some space.

I do like 100 Congress outside design, definitely nicer than a square box. At night, it always reminds me of a double layer chocolate cake. I do not like the blinding side walk lights that illuminate the building or the dead zone it creates at night. The other noticable thing about 100 Congress at night is from the trail you can see all of the office florescent lights in the ceiling - they appear a different angles, very random and a bit ugly. Over all its a beautiful bldg and will get better once construction the area quiets down.

[the Genral]

One American, is in my top 5, but only the north and east sides, San Jacinto, the copper top is greening nicely, I always liked the exposed circler drives to the parking garage at the hotel in front of 100 Congress (whatever its called today), Dobie, even though its not DT, I like that tower, especially post brick, and the old white tower (the one with the ton of fire escape stairs, sorry forum, I'm lousy with names) there's not enough attention to that classic building, its probably my favorite. I'd like to see some pics of it if possible. She's a grand old building. Classic Austin!

[KevinFromTexas]

^I think you're talking about the Norwood Tower? It's one of my favorites too.

http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=norwoodtower-austin-tx-usa

[priller]

100 Congress is a nice looking building. It has a lot of different looks, depending on the angle.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/100409597_d6299281fc_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2089187522_f5e3371975_o.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Just to tell you priller, that building isn't 100 Congress, that's 111 Congress or One Congress Plaza.

[priller]

Oh, sorry. Ha! I always get them confused.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Well now you know priller.

[the Genral]

^I think you're talking about the Norwood Tower? It's one of my favorites too.

http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=norwoodtower-austin-tx-usa

Thanks Kevin, that's the one I was thinking about. For some reason, to me, the fire escapes add to the structural interest of the Norwood rather than takes from it. How many 16 story buildings have them? Come to think of it, why does this one need them?

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Norwood Tower is one of the only art-deco buildings in Austin. Looks like a cross between the Barclay-Vessey Building in New York and the Tribune Tower in Chicago.

Norowood tower by autoamerican on Flickr
http://http://flickr.com/photos/11592451@N00/2994972485/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/2994972485_b783306d00.jpg


NYC-Financial District: Barclay Vesey Building by wallyg on Flickr
http://flickr.com/photos/wallyg/348381526/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/348381526_d39241f043.jpg

Tribune Tower
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/NearNorthSide/TribuneTower-001.jpg

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/NearNorthSide/TribuneTower-001.jpg

[MichaelB]

Norwood Tower is one of the only art-deco buildings in Austin. Looks like a cross between the Barclay-Vessey Building in New York and the Tribune Tower in Chicago.

Norowood tower by autoamerican on Flickr
http://http://flickr.com/photos/11592451@N00/2994972485/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/2994972485_b783306d00.jpg


NYC-Financial District: Barclay Vesey Building by wallyg on Flickr
http://flickr.com/photos/wallyg/348381526/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/348381526_d39241f043.jpg

Tribune Tower
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/NearNorthSide/TribuneTower-001.jpg

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/NearNorthSide/TribuneTower-001.jpg


Hey. glad you are quick on the comparisons.... but a little info for you:

Just so you know. Norwood tower is not "Art Deco". The style is called "Gothic Revival" (or "Neo-Gothic"). Very popular in the !920's when the building was conceived and built. The Same goes for the Tribune tower.
The only Art Deco building here is the Barclay Vesey building. And it is a rather early example I would say.

[bluedogok]

Thanks Kevin, that's the one I was thinking about. For some reason, to me, the fire escapes add to the structural interest of the Norwood rather than takes from it. How many 16 story buildings have them? Come to think of it, why does this one need them?
If it was built in the 20's then the original configuration probably didn't have enough fire exiting to meet current codes. Owners don't want to lose rentable space so the exterior fire stair was probably the best option.

I worked in the Cityplace building in Downtown OKC which was built around 1930, I believe it had 32 Floors and a spiral fireslide from top to bottom as part of the original egress. It would have been difficult to try and put a modern stair into that building to meet code.

[the Genral]

Thanks for coming through on the Norwood pics!

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Hey. glad you are quick on the comparisons.... but a little info for you:

Just so you know. Norwood tower is not "Art Deco". The style is called "Gothic Revival" (or "Neo-Gothic"). Very popular in the !920's when the building was conceived and built. The Same goes for the Tribune tower.
The only Art Deco building here is the Barclay Vesey building. And it is a rather early example I would say.

Thanks. "Neo-Gothic". I'll be more careful on my building eras next time.
Well the Norwood Tower does look like my comparisons combined, like the Doha Convention Center looks like the Shard, Russia Tower, or that u/c hotel in Pyongyang. :P

Thanks for coming through on the Norwood pics!
You're welcome. You can find many more on Google®. And actually only one of them is the Norwood Tower. The others are just ones that look like it, as I was saying it looks like a cross between the Barclay-Vesey Building and the Tribune Tower.

[Mopacs]

Here's a set of photos taken early evening yesterday (8/14). At the end of the self-guided tour, I had the pleasure of breaking down with a dead battery, atop Robertson Hill. Now if I had to break down anywhere, it may as well be in that spot, seeing as I had a panoramic dusk view of downtown :tup:

All is well, though. I have a new battery and a batch of photos to remember for this evening.

http://images49.fotki.com/v1556/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140488-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1555/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140484-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140471-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1556/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140472-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140489-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1555/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140490-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1551/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140497-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1551/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140498-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1556/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140508-vi.jpg

I was standing at the corner of 3rd and Guadalupe... You probably wouldn't have guessed, based on that picture :)

http://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140509-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1551/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140512-vi.jpg

http://images51.fotki.com/v1544/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140520-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1556/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140525-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140564-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1554/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140542-vi.jpg

Standing on the grave of Las Manitas.

http://images52.fotki.com/v1551/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140544-vi.jpg

http://images49.fotki.com/v1556/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140569-vi.jpg


http://images49.fotki.com/v1555/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140573-vi.jpg

And here's the infamous spot of the breakdown. :D

http://images49.fotki.com/v1555/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140639-vi.jpg

http://images51.fotki.com/v1549/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140648-vi.jpg

http://images52.fotki.com/v1552/photos/7/54967/7192871/P1140664-vi.jpg

And since I had 45 minutes to kill, I figured I may as well grab a video pan of the skyline.

GhyTpAtZyFY


Was it all worth it? Hell yeah!

[NThomas]

Great shots! Austin is really looking dense from the street now that the W fills in another empty block.

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Nice pics and vid Mopacs. Love the video. Might as well include your voice?

[austlar1]

Anybody see this?http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/08/10/daily3.html?

It is from August 10 and is about the W project and funding problems.

[KevinFromTexas]

^Yes, if you go into the City Compilations thread, there's some posts about it.


Great pics!

[LoneStarMike]

Great shots Mopacs.

Here's my measly contribution from August 15 along Mopac.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Mopac01.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Mopac02.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Mopac03.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Mopac05.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Mopac04.jpg

[AustinSkyscrapers]

Thanks. The W will have to be above 210 feet to contribute to the Mopac skyline.

[Strayone]

I find it hard to believe the W is not showing up on more pictures. It would be troubling if they had to delay the project and I wonder if this will be a problem for ACL.

[KevinFromTexas]

I wonder how that would affect the ACL venue. I wonder if they could complete that portion of the project and open it, while they wait on the rest? It seems to be pretty independent from the rest of the project.

[LoneStarMike]

August 16, 2009

I finally got my butt up off the couch Sunday morning (early) I went all over the place.

From the Convention Center Parking Garage:

Base of The Austonian
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August001.jpg


Brazos Street
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August002.jpg


Four Seasons Residences & San Jacinto Tower
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August003.jpg


Rio Grande Austin
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August004.jpg


Wider view of The Austonian's Base.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August005.jpg


The next several are from the 7th floor of Brackenridge Hospital's garage.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August006.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August007.jpg


Four Seasons Residences really stand out from this vantage point.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August008.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August009.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August012.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August011.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August013.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August010.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August014.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August015.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August016.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August017.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August018.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August019.jpg


From the Capitol grounds.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August020.jpg


I wanted to go in, but it was only 8:30 and the capitol doesn't open until 9:00 on Sundays, so I went to 1108 Lavaca's Garage.


View to the southwest
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August021.jpg


Thurman Blackwell Criminal Center
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August022.jpg


Texas Association of Counties Building
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August023.jpg


360 from the Bremond Block
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August024.jpg

The next three are from the J P Morgan Chase garage - when the sun came out for about three minutes..


360 and Monarch
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August025.jpg


The Monarch, City Lofts and the top of Spring
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August026.jpg


360
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August027.jpg


Austonian & Chase Bank Tower
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August028.jpg


Congress Avenue
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August029.jpg


The Capitol was finally open and the next threee are from the second floor.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August030.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August031.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August032.jpg


The W from the South First St. Bridge
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August033.jpg


The last two are from the Congress Avenue Bridge
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August034.jpg


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff158/LoneStarMike/Austin%202009/August035.jpg

The heat & humidity :slob: certainly reinforced my appreciation for everyone else who's been getting out on a more regular basis.

[rhoby13]

I was driving back to Austin from Houston yesterday on SH-71 and noticed the Austonian in Bastrop County!! There is a hill right before you get to Dry Creek and the Austonian sticks above the horizon. It's the only building you can see and it just blew my mind away. I wish I had my camera to take a picture. But if anyone is out east on 71 this week, take your camera and look for the Austonian in Bastrop County!

[AustinSkyscrapers]

^^^Those antennas at the WAAF really do pop up everywhere.

[NormalgeNyus]

man the pic of the austonian base shows alot of parking lots around that area. oh well more room for more tall buildings

[Mopacs]

I was driving back to Austin from Houston yesterday on SH-71 and noticed the Austonian in Bastrop County!! There is a hill right before you get to Dry Creek and the Austonian sticks above the horizon. It's the only building you can see and it just blew my mind away. I wish I had my camera to take a picture. But if anyone is out east on 71 this week, take your camera and look for the Austonian in Bastrop County!

Yep! I saw it as well. I took note of where we were at the time, and it was still in Bastrop county. The distance from that vantage point is roughly 17 miles. Not too shabby. That makes 4 counties from which the Austonian is visible.

[KevinFromTexas]

Some more neighborhood views around South Austin from Friday and Sunday. I went and grabbed a few new ones I've noticed recently. The Austonian is really sticking up in some places now.

This is from behind the baseball fields at Garrison Park. It's on the backside of the park near the train tracks. The view is looking north of course, towards Stassney Lane.
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3719/p1320117edit.jpg

360 and Frost show up here too, but 360 hardly ever does, and you really can't see it with your naked eye. It does show up nicely at night though. Frost you'll notice, is just about hidden from view now by The Austonian. There's a street that runs off of Manchaca Road along side the park (Parkside Road). It's a really nice neighborhood. Some of the houses that back up to the park have this for their view.
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1763/p1320114edit.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4530/p1320119edit.jpg

Zoomed out, in real life it appears bigger than this. I just wanted to show the lights.
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6411/p1320120edit.jpg

That is Crockett High School to the left. My old school.
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6403/p1320126edit.jpg

This is a first. A view of a downtown building from the jogging track at Crockett. It sure would have made things more interesting if the building had been there when I was in school. lol
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2558/p1320141edit.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7258/p1320134edit.jpg

You can always catch the best sunsets down there.
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4960/p1320143edit.jpg

I spotted this view a couple of weeks ago on Woodhue Drive near William Cannon. Don't see it? Look on the left side of the pic above the roof of that white building. See something sticking up?
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9228/p1320158edit.jpg

Zoomed in. This is another first. I've never seen a downtown building here.
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3756/p1320149edit.jpg

A little farther north on Woodhue just south of William Cannon, is this view of Spring. I'd seen it before when turning onto Woodhue. This was taken from the northbound sidewalk on Woodhue.
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7615/p1320167edit.jpg

The large Texas flag at the end of the street says "Texas needs Kinky".
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/785/p1320160edit.jpg

From the railroad overpass on William Cannon.
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5307/p1320186edit.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7403/p1320188edit.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5130/p1320197edit.jpg

This is from the Shell station at South First and William Cannon. This is across the street from Bedichek Middle School, which was my middle school, and the filming location of Dazed and Confused! You can see Frost of course too, and I hadn't ever noticed it, but if you look to the left on the horizon, that looks like 300 West Sixth. 360, One American Center, Frost and now The Austonian all show up there, but I didn't realize anything shorter than that would.
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5826/p1320201edit.jpg

From a driveway on South First near Eberhart Lane, between William Cannon and Stassney. There's actually an auto parts store there.
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/56/p1320206edit.jpg

This was taken at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Cougar Drive. You can see Frost at this spot too, but it wasn't showing up. The Austonian partially blocks it, and the trees do too. It's quite noticeable at night, and in the winter the view is even better. This is right next to Odom Elementary School, which was my school. It's funny, but all three of my schools that I went to now have some pretty noticeable skyline views right next to them.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4445/p1320208edit.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5189/p1320212edit.jpg

This last one is from Emerald Forrest Drive.
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8765/p1320221edit.jpg

[Jdawgboy]

Its funny how close we live by each other, though I never went to any of the schools you went to. I went to St. Elmo Elementary, Porter Middle School (Now Ann Richards School for Girls) and Travis High. But I go through all those same areas you took pictures quite a bit. The funny thing is I live much closer to Crockett than Travis yet I was in the Travis district.

[arbeiter]

That has to be my least favorite part of town (central south austin south of Ben White).