[GoldenBoot]

Name: The Austonian
Location: 200 Congress Avenue
Height: 683 feet
Floors: 56 floors
Use: condominiums and retail.
Units: 188
Completion: 2009
Website: http://www.theaustonian.com/

The Austonian (http://www.theaustonian.com)

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/04/44/58/image_5058444.jpg


REAL ESTATE

Austonian to tower over downtown
Proposed 55-story luxury condo tower will be Austin's tallest building when completed in 2009.

By Shonda Novak
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Austin's skyline is about to undergo its biggest change in history.

Soaring 22 stories higher than downtown's tallest existing building, a $200 million luxury condominium tower planned for Congress Avenue and Second Street will set a new bar for height and unit prices amid downtown's residential building boom.

Although the design isn't final, the Austonian could rise up to 700 feet, dwarfing the 33-story, 515-foot Frost Bank Tower at Congress and Fourth Street once it's finished in 2009. Construction is set to start late this year at 200 Congress Ave., which is now a parking lot.

The 55-story Austonian would eclipse the tallest residential tower under construction downtown, a 563-foot condominium tower with 44 stories that Atlanta-based Novare Group Holdings LLC and its local partner, Andrews Urban LLC, are building at Third and Nueces streets.

The developer of the Austonian, Second Congress Ltd., an affiliate of Austin-based Benchmark Development, launched its Web site to begin marketing the project Tuesday.

The Austonian's upscale units could set a new benchmark for luxury living in the city's urban core. Though prices haven't been set for the 195 units, they are expected to start at about $500,000 for the smallest units with about 1,200 square feet, said David Mahn, vice president of Benchmark. Prices for the penthouse units would top $1 million.

Mahn said the Austonian's prices would be "very competitive" on a per-square-foot basis with other new downtown condominium projects. Prices also are expected to start at about $500,000 in a mixed-use condominium tower that local developer Tom Stacy plans for Fifth Street and Congress Avenue. Stacy's building, which has no timetable for breaking ground, is expected to rival Benchmark's in height.

Stacy also plans to build a striking glass tower that could rise up to 700 feet.

Mahn said the Austonian developers only recently settled on a 55-story building, which he said worked best from an economic standpoint, although a range of stories was considered during the design process.

The Austonian will have 500,000 square feet of space, roughly half the amount of a regional shopping center. A variance from the city will allow the developer to build a project with about double the square feet that existing zoning would have allowed.

Designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston, the building will be an elliptical glass and masonry tower atop a lush garden deck, with a pool area overlooking Congress Avenue. The high-rise will be topped with an illuminated architectural feature, which is still in the design stage.

In addition to a concierge and valet service, the building will offer residents workout facilities and a private area for meetings or parties on the top two floors.

With units in most of the downtown condo projects priced high, some developers have been shooting for more moderate starting prices. Prices for Novare's condo project, for example, will range from $190,000 for a 785-square-foot unit to $550,000 for a 1,638-square-foot unit.

Mahn said he expects the Austonian to appeal to a broad range of buyers, including many who work downtown.

"We think this is the perfect live/work/play/shop location," Mahn said.

The Austonian is one of at least four residential high-rises that developers plan to break ground on this year in downtown Austin as they seek to meet what they say is continued robust demand for urban living.

Several other condo and apartment projects are under construction downtown, and scores more are planned or under way near downtown as the condo craze spreads south and east.

That has led some to question whether the downtown condo market might be at risk of getting overbuilt, a phenomenon that has hit other cities, including Miami and Boston.

But Charles Heimsath, a local real estate expert who consulted on the Austonian project, said demand for downtown condos in Austin remains strong, "with each new project selling out in record time."

"Demand for the most expensive units in the existing projects has been slower, but none of them have been a 'super luxury' project on Congress Avenue," said Heimsath, president of Capitol Market Research. "I feel confident that the Austonian will be well-received by the market due to its extensive amenities, views and very high level of finish."

If all the planned units were to start at the same time, "then I think we might be facing an overbuilt high-end market," Heimsath said. "However, every project has its own unique attributes, pricing and market appeal, and that differentiation, along with the fact that the time between project completions is staggered, should keep the market strong."

Developers report healthy sales at their projects. At the Shore, a 23-story condo project under construction at Red River and Davis streets, only 10 of the 192 units are left, with prices ranging from $350,000 to $765,000, said Ian Stonington, the project's sales manager.

Seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong is an investor in the $55 million project, which is being developed by High Street Residential, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co. Armstrong has reserved a unit on an upper floor.

At Bridges on the Park, a condo project CLB Partners is building at South Lamar Boulevard and West Riverside Drive, 47 of the 104 units are under contract with non-refundable earnest money representing 5 percent of the purchase price, said Bobby Nail, the Austin partner for CLB Partners.

Another luxury condo project, the 20-story AquaTerra next to the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake, will break ground once buyers are lined up for half of the 173 units. The developers have said they expect to reach that goal early this year. The units are priced from $350,000 to $1.2 million.

Spring, a condominium tower at Third and Bowie streets, has 780 reservation holders for its 240 units, said Larry Warshaw, a partner in the 41-story project.

With downtown housing largely out of reach for middle-income buyers, some city leaders have voiced concerns about the area becoming an enclave of the well-heeled.

"It becomes a challenge to justify significant taxpayer investment in downtown if it becomes an urban Aspen or Vail," said Council Member Brewster McCracken. "It is in everyone's interest, including downtown property owners, that downtown developments include a broader range of housing prices than we're seeing currently."

Mahn concedes that the Austonian's starting prices will cut out some prospective buyers.

But he said Benchmark has and continues to build much more moderately priced housing elsewhere in Central Texas, including condominium projects in East and South Austin with partner Terry Mitchell. Those will have prices starting in the low $100,000s.

snovak@statesman.com; 512-445-3856


http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/09/55/59/image_5059559.jpg

[craeg]

Hilarious that they mention the palace (sheraton) hotel addition in SF.
Anyway, great news for Austin. Looks good.

[WonderlandPark]

:cheers: Austin. Man you guys have so much happening. ANOTHER new potential tallest.

[KevinFromTexas]

I just got off the phone with Shonda Novak. She says there will be a 2nd larger part to this article on Statesman.com tomorrow. Yipee, I helped with the rankings! :banana:

[StatenIslander237]

I really like this design. Compared to some other Austin tallest proposals, I am most fond of this one. It's sleek, modern and stylish. It reminds me a little bit of Q1 in Gold Coast City, or MGM Constellation Place in Los Angeles.

[MattSal]

The design is to die for.

[KevinFromTexas]

Here is the extended version of the article from yesterday. Shonda Novak had contacted me for information about how this building would rank across the country among other residential towers. Although they didn't list any rankings in the article, I was still happy to assist.
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/01/24/24downtown.html

She seemed to be enthusiastic about the tower. She noted over the phone that "This thing will be beautiful."

I LOVE this design. I liked this tower from the beginning. Considering what they've done in the Houston area, I knew Zielger Cooper Architects wouldn't let us down. Very nice design here. Note the overhanging crown just below the very top floor. That is going to be such a nice feature on our skyline.

[Mopacs]

An initial rendering was leaked to the press last year. The designers stressed it was far from finalized, which is evident in the updated renderings. Here's a side-by-side comparison. You can see the base has changed, and the tower itself integrates much more glass than before, which gives it a much sleeker, modern look.

http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/5/54967/2949615/renderingwtower02-vi.jpghttp://images19.fotki.com/v381/photos/5/54967/2949615/Austonian1-vi.jpg

I also put together a very crude photoshopping of the original design last year, as viewed within the overall skyline. Compared with the renderings posted in today's statesman, the scale is not far off...though a bit shorter (and wider). This shot is taken from the I-35/Ben White Freeway flyover about 3-4 miles south of downtown

http://images16.fotki.com/v300/photos/5/54967/2949615/Tower_FromBenWhite-vi.jpg

This scale on this one was a bit off (shorter, and wider), but the placement in the skyline is about right. This is taken from the Myers track stadium on the UT campus, north of downtown

http://images17.fotki.com/v304/photos/5/54967/2949615/Tower_FromUT-vi.jpg

[Mopacs]

The website is up and there are additional renderings...

http://www.theaustonian.com (http://www.theaustonian.com/)

http://www.theaustonian.com/pic01.jpg

http://www.theaustonian.com/pic02.jpg

http://www.theaustonian.com/pic03.jpg

Press Release:

http://www.theaustonian.com/PressRelease.pdf

The Austonian

Focus on Luxury Urban Living, Environmental Features and Panoramic Views

Austin, Texas (January 23, 2007) –
Second Congress Ltd. today announced its newest residential

development, located in Austin at the Northwest corner of Congress Avenue and 2nd Street. The Austonian, a projected $200 million mixed-use, luxury high-rise condominium development, is scheduled to break ground the Summer of 2007 with an opening date of 2009. This project will be a welcome addition to the dynamic revitalization plans underway for the Second Street Retail District in downtown Austin.

"Luxury living is all about convenience and vision combined with elegance,” said David Mahn, project vice president for Second Congress Ltd. “The Austonian is going to be just that. It will offer a complete package of unmatched features and amenities in terms of its address and convenient location, important environmental green aspects, views that will be afforded to every resident, revitalization of the Second Street District of Austin, and an extraordinary architectural design and ‘wow-factor.’ We believe the
Austonian has it all.”

Designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects of Houston, The Austonian will be an elegant, 55-story, elliptical high-rise tower designed with a glass, stone and masonry window wall system atop an urban garden deck on Congress Avenue. At the top of the building, an illuminated architectural roof element will complement the Austin skyline.
“We are privileged to offer to Austin a downtown housing experience that we believe improves people’s lives. With over 28 restaurants, substantial retail, cultural activities and 5 million square feet of office space within a five-minute walk, one can live, work and play without ever getting in a car,” said Terry Mitchell, strategic marketing director for the project. “While the views are extraordinary, we are most excited about the City of Austin becoming a leader in redefining how we can live in a compact city environment with much less of an impact to our beautiful hill country,” he declared.

Construction plans for The Austonian will include important green building innovations, such as a rainwater capture and recycling system, in addition to reduced building emissions. Currently, there are 195 luxury residences with distinctive floor plans, plus compelling interior design selections on the drawing board. The property is being exclusively represented and sold through Austin-based Gottesman Residential Real Estate. Additional features will include a resort-style outdoor pool located in an urban garden area above street level with a conservatory encompassing an outdoor promenade sundeck and cabanas. The top of The Austonian will feature a first-class workout facility and a breathtaking, scenic gathering place that is exclusive to residents. Here, residents can conduct meetings or entertain guests while enjoying
breathtaking panoramic views. Project plans for The Austonian also include a private screening room, conference center, guest suites, and game room. There will be a secure dog park and a host of other personal services and amenities as well.

About Benchmark Development and Second Congress Ltd.

Benchmark Development


(Benchmark) located in Austin, Texas, is the principal of Second Congress

Ltd. Benchmark is a full-service development company, creating award-winning, single-family, condo, office, retail, and mixed-use projects in both the suburban and urban in-fill markets. Projects include “Plum Creek,” a 2200-acre traditional neighborhood design mixed-use community in Kyle, Texas.

Benchmark, a subsidiary of Grupo Villar Mir in Spain, specializes in reviving the great American neighborhood and fostering community interaction between citizens and local businesses.
# # #

For more information on The Austonian, please visit


www.theaustonian.com. For media inquires and

additional high resolution renderings and images contact:


Judy Schmidt
Levenson & Brinker Public Relations
214-932-6066 or 972-261-8004, judy.schmidt@levensonbrinkerpr.com

[trvlr70]

I love it...it looks very Chicago in my opinion. I just wonder, do Austinites really want the city to look like Dallas and Houston? I like Austin being height challenged.

[marcus]

that's amazing! It fits so well too. Awsome!

[Dale]

HUGE improvement over the original, IMO. Now get it built.

[KevinFromTexas]

I really love this design. Oh, man, I hope it gets built.

[StatenIslander237]

I love it...it looks very Chicago in my opinion. I just wonder, do Austinites really want the city to look like Dallas and Houston? I like Austin being height challenged.

Honestly, seeing as this is only 700 ft., i think its still gonna take a whole lot for austin's skyline to be in the ranks of dallas or houston, but i see what you mean. i too like austin's smaller skyline. :P

[Dale]

Memories are short, though. It wasn't until around 1980 that Houston cracked the 700' barrier, then Dallas a few years later.

[KevinFromTexas]

Actually, Houston saw their first 700+ footer in 1971, but the bulk did come in the 80s. The first 700 footer in Houston was the One Shell Plaza at 714 feet and 50 floors. It was the tallest building in Texas from 1971 to 1980.

One Shell Plaza (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101031&txt=One+Shell+Plaza&button=Search)

Dallas saw its first 700+ footer in 1974 with the Renaissance Tower at 710 feet and 56 floors. That building was Dallas' tallest from 1974 to 1985. In 1987 it was added onto to become their 2nd tallest and it also became the first 800 to 899 foot building in Texas after the additional height.

Renaissance Tower (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101036&txt=Renaissance+Tower&button=Search)

[kenratboy]

I really like it - please let it be built!

[StatenIslander237]

Actually, Houston saw their first 700+ footer in 1971, but the bulk did come in the 80s. The first 700 footer in Houston was the One Shell Plaza at 714 feet and 50 floors. It was the tallest building in Texas from 1971 to 1980.

One Shell Plaza (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101031&txt=One+Shell+Plaza&button=Search)

Dallas saw its first 700+ footer in 1974 with the Renaissance Tower at 710 feet and 56 floors. That building was Dallas' tallest from 1974 to 1985. In 1987 it was added onto to become their 2nd tallest and it also became the first 800 to 899 foot building in Texas after the additional height.

Renaissance Tower (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101036&txt=Renaissance+Tower&button=Search)

And Austin saw its first 700+ footer in 2009 with the Austonian at 700 feet exactly and 55 floors. This was the tallest building in Austin from 2009 to 20--. ;) :haha:

Austonian (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=200congress-austin-tx-usa)

On a different topic, did you know that One Shell Plaza doesnt show up on Google Earth, and there's a thread about buildings like that. Its labeled that the Citigroup Center doesn't show up on Google Earth, which it doesnt. ::koko: :P

[GoldenBoot]

And Austin saw its first 700+ footer in 2009 with the Austonian at 700 feet exactly and 55 floors. This was the tallest building in Austin from 2009 to 20--......2010 when Tom Stacy cut the ribbon on his new downtown Austin skyscraper. :banana:

[northface]

amazing tower! reminds me of a vancouver type building...

[Texas Tuff]

That is a very impressive, sleek, modern-looking building. If built, I think it will be a great addition to the Austin skyline...let's face it, it would be a great addition to any skyline!

[Hoodrat]

Really nice:tup:

The newer rendering is definately an improvement.

[StatenIslander237]

...2010 when Tom Stacy cut the ribbon on his new downtown Austin skyscraper. :banana:

lmao :P

[gbayard]

Very nice building. Looks very similar to The Murano in Philadelphia.

[Mopacs]

Here's a 'preview' of what's to come in a few years, if my novice photoshopping efforts are any indication. I've superimposed the renderings atop these old photos...

Auditorium shores:

http://images14.fotki.com/v388/photos/5/54967/2949615/AudiotriumShores1-vi.jpg

From the Book People parking garage, on Lamar

http://images20.fotki.com/v384/photos/5/54967/2949615/LamarBookPeople-vi.jpg


From Longhorn Dam (Pleasant Valley Rd at Lakeshore)

http://images14.fotki.com/v389/photos/5/54967/2949615/Riverside4-vi.jpg

From Riverside Drive

http://images14.fotki.com/v387/photos/5/54967/2949615/Riverside3-vi.jpg

I-35 Frontage Road

http://images20.fotki.com/v385/photos/5/54967/2949615/Woodland_Skyline3-vi.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

Cool renderings, Mopacs. I am so excited to see what the "new" views will be like once this thing is finished.

[rriojas71]

That is a very impressive, sleek, modern-looking building. If built, I think it will be a great addition to the Austin skyline...let's face it, it would be a great addition to any skyline!

What I've always like about Austin's skyline is that most of the buildings are similar in height, with Frost Bank Tower standing out slightly but not by much. It's height and design added some height but stayed in line with the character of Austin's skyline. I like the design of the new building but unless a few other 500+ footers appear it makes the skyline look a bit unbalanced. I think if it was scaled down a bit so that it wouldn't overpower the skyline and kinda stick out like a sore thumb.

[Mikey711MN]

Makes me wonder how the Marriott "complex" across Congress will be redesigned. Because the view from I-35 (and points east) will largely block much of the lower part of this beauty.

[JBinCalgary]

way to go austin, its about time! thats all i have to say about that

[Mopacs]

What I've always like about Austin's skyline is that most of the buildings are similar in height, with Frost Bank Tower standing out slightly but not by much. It's height and design added some height but stayed in line with the character of Austin's skyline. I like the design of the new building but unless a few other 500+ footers appear it makes the skyline look a bit unbalanced. I think if it was scaled down a bit so that it wouldn't overpower the skyline and kinda stick out like a sore thumb.

Very true... lets hope the other projects come to fruition. I went ahead and added more building proposals/renderings to the above pics....T Stacy and Altavida will definitely help balance things out.

From South Congress Avenue...

...with Altavida

http://images14.fotki.com/v389/photos/5/54967/2949615/Austonion_SoCo-vi.jpg

With Block 21 and Altavida

http://images14.fotki.com/v387/photos/5/54967/2949615/Austonion_SoCo_AltavidaBlock21-vi.jpg

...and with T-Stacy's 700 footer (sorry, thats the only angle of this rendering I could find):

http://images20.fotki.com/v390/photos/5/54967/2949615/ion_SoCo_TstacyAltavidaBlock21-vi.jpg


Now from Riverside Drive/Town Lake (I made the best of the renderings here as well...from odd angles)

http://images20.fotki.com/v384/photos/5/54967/2949615/Riverside2_AltaVidaTstacy2-vi.jpg

http://images14.fotki.com/v387/photos/5/54967/2949615/Riverside2_AltaVidaTstacy-vi.jpg

With the Four Seasons Residences thrown in

http://images14.fotki.com/v387/photos/5/54967/2949615/de2_AltaVidaTstacyFourseasons2-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v385/photos/5/54967/2949615/ide2_AltaVidaTstacyFourseasons-vi.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

I have a feeling there will be more 500 footers on the way. And so far it isn't looking so bad. Since building my model of downtown, the new proposals don't appear to be overpowering things too much.

[GoldenBoot]

Excellent work with the pics, Mopacs!

[austlar]

Very neat pics, but am I the only one that thinks the proposed Austonian and the Altavida look ungainly from afar? The rooflines are awkward and not at all elegant to my way of thinking. I love the height, but that's about it. On the other hand, I think the T. Stacey proposal looks great from any angle, but that is the one I think is least likely to get built.

[Mopacs]

Very neat pics, but am I the only one that thinks the proposed Austonian and the Altavida look ungainly from afar? The rooflines are awkward and not at all elegant to my way of thinking. I love the height, but that's about it. On the other hand, I think the T. Stacey proposal looks great from any angle, but that is the one I think is least likely to get built.

I definitely see what you mean... by itself, The Austonian would resemble a middle-school kid who grew 6 inches over the summer, and now lankily towers over his friends (sans the zits). Luckily, adjacent projects will help minimize this effect, as they are completed ahead of Austonian's hopeful rise.

Altavida, in particular, looks to have one of the biggest impacts on the south-facing skyline. I really like how it balances out the skyline from the South Congress vantage point. I dont mind the design to be honest.. The reddish brick/exterior compliments well the adjacent pink granite-clad 100 Congress, and other nearby buildings.

[NEWNANGuy]

love this new tower......love Frost Bank even more. i wish Frost Bank was taller to compliment it tho :-(

[Thefigman]

With the Four Seasons Residences thrown in

http://images14.fotki.com/v387/photos/5/54967/2949615/de2_AltaVidaTstacyFourseasons2-vi.jpg


Nice job Mopacs!

That is a nice cluster.

[Mopacs]

Nice job Mopacs!

That is a nice cluster.

Thanks! And yes, you are right, the cluster from that vantage point will be impressive. The buildings proposed along and near the river are going to really stretch out our skyline (from Lamar to I-35). The complexion of which could change drastically in a few years (similar to what Miami has experienced this decade...on a smaller scale of course).

[GoldenBoot]

FYI: Sales center should be opening in April...

[GoldenBoot]

Notice the 412', 36-story Altavida tower in this rendering (which is currently under construction)...


From Zeigler Cooper's website:
http://www.zieglercooper.com/live/graphics/congress%20condos/web_THE%20AUSTONIAN-NIGHT-2.jpg



P.S.
The Austonian's site plan is currently under review and should be approved by the City of Austin within the next month or two...

[James2390]

This one is cool. I like the name as well.

[KevinFromTexas]

The City of Austin's Central Austin Emerging Projects list on PDF file has been updated. It lists The Austonian as being 780 feet tall! It says they plan to break ground in the summer of '07.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/default.htm

[GoldenBoot]

The City of Austin's Central Austin Emerging Projects list on PDF file has been updated. It lists The Austonian as being 780 feet tall! It says they plan to break ground in the summer of '07.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/default.htm

I would seriously recommend that you, and everyone else, take the information "they" (the City of Austin's Economic Growth & Redevelopment Office) report with the proverbial grain of salt. It is not their job to report the exact specifics of each project, just the summaries provided by the developers and/or information taken from filed city documents. There are a number of errors and some misinformation in their listings.

For example:
--Is the Austonian 700' or 780'?
--Is 360 going to be 580' (as dictated in the City's listing) or 563' (as decreed by Andrews Urban's website?
--Is Spring 36 stories tall or, as the developers declare, a 41-story tower?
--Will the new ACL venue accommodate 1,000 spectators or will it be able to seat 2,000, as it was recently reported.
--Will Constellation’s Red River project comprise two, 30-story towers or just one, 27-story tower – referencing a recent quote in the AAS by Constellation’s president, Eugene Marchese.

…and the list goes on-and-on…Nonetheless, it is a great source for keeping tabs on new developments in Austin, but not necessarily for precise specs...

Tom’s (Tom Stacy) Fifth & Congress tower, if built, will easily top 700’. The 675’ listed in the City’s Emerging Projects descriptions was taken from his (and Richard Suttle’s) presentations to the city. They both recognized that the tower “may be” 675’ tall. Also, remember the several articles in the statesman (and elsewhere) in which the tower was identified as being “at least 705’ in height?”

If a brief analysis were conducted using the structure’s renderings, one may discover that Fifth & Congress “should” tower 725’-750’ above Congress Avenue.

However, considering the fact that a site plan has yet to be filed with the city, a number of new condo and/or hotel developments have been announced in the past several months, as well as the need for more Class-A office space in the central core; I would expect the tower’s mixed-usage allocations to change – possibly altering the scale of the final product.

[trvlr70]

This will be an awesome tower.

But, is it a definite "GO" or are there some future hurdles?

[GoldenBoot]

Really, the only "hurdle" left is the sale of individual units. Their sales center opens later this month...

The developer has received all the necessary approvals accept one for the site plan and the actual building permits. There should not be issues with the aforementioned.

[KevinFromTexas]

Thanks, Goldenboot. I thought of asking you first before bringing this to everyone's attention. Still it does show some idea of where this project could end up. Who knows.

[GoldenBoot]

No worries, bud!

[StevenW]

Very cool design! :yes: Should help the skyline dramaticaly. :)

[alex1]

not sure I'm digging this tower. The textural change at about the 2/3 mark isn't needed. It reminds me of some of the brutalist towers in which the form changes as you go up, only this one is in glass form and not as clean or interesting. Perhaps if you took the "hat" off, the texture change wouldn't bother me at all (it would look a bit like Minneapolis's tallest). It's strange that post-modernism is still alive and kicking.

in any regard, I'm sure that the context of this tower will change as other buildings fill in some gaps and voids in Austin's urban fabric. overall, pretty cool news for a very nice downtown.

[sakyle04]

not sure I'm digging this tower. The textural change at about the 2/3 mark isn't needed. It reminds me of some of the brutalist towers in which the form changes as you go up, only this one is in glass form and not as clean or interesting. Perhaps if you took the "hat" off, the texture change wouldn't bother me at all (it would look a bit like Minneapolis's tallest). It's strange that post-modernism is still alive and kicking.


I think the height of the project has seduced us all...

I haven't even considered the design to any great degree. Above all, I have noticed that it is clean and slender - two things that DT Austin has been needing. No sharp edges and nothing but smiles from me when the crane goes up one day soon... :fingerscrossed:

[trvlr70]

The crown is reminiscent of both One Museum Park and One Museum Park West currently under construction is Chicago.

[alex1]

The crown is reminiscent of both One Museum Park and One Museum Park West currently under construction is Chicago.

yeah. you're right. I suppose the difference is how the building flows into their respective crowns. The flow here is hindered by the form change in the buildings facade.

[KevinFromTexas]

I have a good feeling about The Austonian.

From the Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/04/27/27austininc.html

Austin Inc.
Even the dogs will be pampered at the Austonian

Friday, April 27, 2007

Austonian will have amenities for people and their pooches

The Austonian, the swanky 55-story condo tower planned for Second Street and Congress Avenue, is pulling out the stops on amenities.

The bathrooms will have marble walls; the kitchens will have Italian cabinets and built-in cappuccino machines, and 54th floor lounge will have a catering kitchen.

A 10th floor "urban garden" will include a lap pool, billiard room and outdoor movie screen.

It also will have a dog park with a scented, self-cleaning doggie toilet — just the thing for pampered high-rise pooches.

Prices will range from $550,000 to $3.8 million and higher than that for buyers who create a custom unit on the three highest floors.

"We knew what the standard was, and we wanted to blow it out of the water," said Laura Gottesman, whose firm, Gottesman Windham Real Estate, is marketing the units.

[GoldenBoot]

Notice the 412' Altavida tower (currently U/C) in this "newer" rendering of The Austonian?!?


http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/01/77/37/image_5337771.jpg
HINT: It's immediately to the left of the CarrAmerica Tower and just above-and-to-the-left of 100 Congress...

[GoldenBoot]

FYI: The Austonian Sales Center is having its grand opening gala this Thursday night at 19:00.

[GoldenBoot]

FYI: The Austonian's (http://www.theaustonian.com) website has been updated...

[GoldenBoot]

Bad News...Yes? No? You be the judge...


According to The Austonian's press kit (http://www.theaustonian.com/pdf/presskit.pdf), their tower may only rise 680' (207.3m) into the air above Austin.

:irked:

Hopefully, the PR people got it wrong and the building is closer to (or surpasses) 700' in height. There's just something about that 700' mark.

P.S.
It is my belief that the height of the tower was NOT decreased for any particular reason, but merely, a bit of research laziness on the part of the media. In all fairness, many articles did refer to the height being "roughly 700' tall.” And, until someone is able to confirm the “official” height of the structure from the final blueprints, I will hope for the best.

[GoldenBoot]

I think I may have found why there is a 20' difference...

Notice the "mechanical penthouse" in the crown of this May 2006 rendering:
http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/9/9a/200congress1.jpg


Now compare it to these early 2007 renderings...It's missing...
http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/thumb/a/a9/Austonian_CloseUp-Day.jpg/357px-Austonian_CloseUp-Day.jpg http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/8/80/AUSTONIAN-NIGHT-2.jpg

http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/6/69/AustonianNew2.jpg

http://www.urbanaustin.org/images/thumb/d/de/Austonian_Roof.JPG/721px-Austonian_Roof.JPG

[GoldenBoot]

Now that I think about it, didn't the original plan call for a 48-story, 700' building? If so, I would assume that since they added 7 stories to the tower, that it’s height should have increased to somewhere between 780’ (~14.17’/floor) and 802’ (~14.58’/floor)?!? This brings the 780’ back into question...

[Jularc]

Nice looking tower! That is going to change the skyline so much.

[Complex01]

I agree. I really like this project. It is in a great location to really stand out in the skyline...

:yes:

[CHAPINM1]

I think the new design is a even better! This project will contribute the most so far in the Austin skyline...

[pablosan]

Look like a great project.

[Jdawgboy]

I love this building and don't worry about the height, the origional plan was for it to be 48 stories at 700 feet. They have added 7 more floors so it should be in the area of 780 feet. By the way if you pass by their sales office on west 6th in the 300 w 6th tower, you can see the model of the building from the window and it looks very impressive.

[Wheelingman04]

Great tower. I really hope it gets built.

[ATXboom]

Site is cleared and fences are up... looks like a go!

[Tom In Chicago]

cool

[GoldenBoot]

Site is cleared and fences are up... looks like a go!

The site has not been completely cleared...3/4 of it is still an overflow parking lot for the 100 Congress Building. The chain-link fence you see, surrounds the footprints of the old, historic buildings which were dismantled brick-by-brick, and does not reflect the beginning of construction in any way.

This building's site plan has yet to be approved by the City and there are several more hoops to jump through before dirt is turned.

I do, however, feel really good about this project being seen through to completion.

[KevinFromTexas]

Ahem...so does anyone want to know how tall The Austonian will be?

I have the heights right here. :)

I sent an email the day before yesterday to the folks at http://theaustonian.com/

I chatted with David Mahn who is the Vice President of Benchmark Development, the company developing the tower. I had to get clearance from him to release the heights. I also asked for permission to use the building's renderings for its page at Emporis.

So...

Unfortunately, it looks like it won't be 700 feet tall afterall.

682 feet, 11 inches to the top of the mechanical penthouse.
679 feet, 11 inches to the mainroof.
634 feet, 11 inches to the highest occupied floor, (the 56th floor).
621 feet, 11 inches to the 55th floor, (skylounge).
90 feet to the top of the podium, (10th floor).

I think the reason it has such a small difference in height between what is considered to be "mainroof" and mechanical penthouse is that the tower really doesn't have any setbacks at the top. I believe most of the mechanical stuff, air condition and elevator equipment is in that "cab/crown" at the top. There's probably some open air service floor up there which is what is considered to be the mainroof. Then the 3 foot height must be the parapet, or barrier wall between you and the big drop.

I also asked him when we can expect to see it breakground. He says summer of 2007.

But wow, 683 feet and 56 floors tall. When I go to enter in the heights for Emporis, the site will automatically round up the height to 683 feet, since it's only one inch shy of it. Also check out the highest floor - 634 feet, 11 inches. Nearly 235 feet higher than the top floor of the Frost Bank Tower which is just 400 feet up.

[KevinFromTexas]

The Austonian statistical facts about the building - how it stacks up in Texas.

Yesterday I was adding the heights for The Austonian and also adding the statistical facts for the building. I knew The Austonian would be big news, but I hadn't quite realized all the details until I started to look.

First, some of you may know that buildings have their heights listed according to their design. Spires, domes, crowns, and any rooftop structure that is part of the design of the building is included in its official height. Antennas, flagpoles, signs, air conditioning units, or any other type of rooftop structure that isn't part of the design of the building, is not included in its height.

As for the statistical facts about how The Austonian ranks. It's quite exciting.

First of all, not only will it be the tallest in Austin by 120 feet, (beating 360 Condominiums), but also the tallest in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas. The Austonian will be the tallest all residential building in Texas, and guess what building it will beat to get that title...360 Condominiums, also in Austin. I had also known that 360 Condominiums in Austin was big news, and that it would rank high in residential buildings in Texas. But I hadn't realized that it would actually be the new tallest all residential building in the state. The current tallest all residential building in Texas now is the Mercantile Building (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101036&txt=Mercantile+Building&button=Search) in Dallas which is an old office building that has been turned into condos. That building is 523 feet to the spire and 430 feet to the roof. 360 Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=360-austin-tx-usa) in Austin will be 563 feet tall to the spire and 472 feet to the roof.

The Austonian joins Dallas' new Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=victoryresidentialtower-dallas-tx-usa) as one of two skyscrapers in Texas over 600 feet that will have residential uses. The Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences also contains a hotel component, but The Austonian is all residential, making it the tallest all residential in the state, and at 33 feet taller than the Mandarin Oriental & Residences, tallest building in Texas with any residential.

[GoldenBoot]

The Austonian statistical facts about the building - how it stacks up in Texas.

Yesterday I was adding the heights for The Austonian and also adding the statistical facts for the building. I knew The Austonian would be big news, but I hadn't quite realized all the details until I started to look.

First, some of you may know that buildings have their heights listed according to their design. Spires, domes, crowns, and any rooftop structure that is part of the design of the building is included in its official height. Antennas, flagpoles, signs, air conditioning units, or any other type of rooftop structure that isn't part of the design of the building, is not included in its height.

As for the statistical facts about how The Austonian ranks. It's quite exciting.

First of all, not only will it be the tallest in Austin by 120 feet, (beating 360 Condominiums), but also the tallest in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas. The Austonian will be the tallest all residential building in Texas, and guess what building it will beat to get that title...360 Condominiums, also in Austin. I had also known that 360 Condominiums in Austin was big news, and that it would rank high in residential buildings in Texas. But I hadn't realized that it would actually be the new tallest all residential building in the state. The current tallest all residential building in Texas now is the Mercantile Building (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/sh/?id=101036&txt=Mercantile+Building&button=Search) in Dallas which is an old office building that has been turned into condos. That building is 523 feet to the spire and 430 feet to the roof. 360 Condominiums (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=360-austin-tx-usa) in Austin will be 563 feet tall to the spire and 472 feet to the roof.

The Austonian joins Dallas' new Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=victoryresidentialtower-dallas-tx-usa) as one of two skyscrapers in Texas over 600 feet that will have residential uses. The Mandarin Oriental Dallas & Residences also contains a hotel component, but The Austonian is all residential, making it the tallest all residential in the state, and at 33 feet taller than the Mandarin Oriental & Residences, tallest building in Texas with any residential.

Let's broaden the scope a bit...The Austonian, if it ends up being built and is taller than T.Stacy’s proposal for Fifth & Congress, will be the tallest residential tower in the Southwest. In addition, it may become the tallest residential tower in North America, west of the Mississippi River, if the following are not built or are altered to lower heights: Park Fifth - L.A. (proposed at 820’), Trump - Denver (proposed at 715’), and Club Renaissance - Las Vegas (proposed at 705’).

With regards to 360...I'm trying to remember the reason why Novare/Andrews Urban redused the spire's height from 108.5' to 90.5'? Would someone be able to help refresh my memory?

Thanks!

[KevinFromTexas]

Forumer AustinHeights posted this in the city compilation thread for Austin. The Austonian will officially breakground August 31, 2007. Wohoo!


Hey guys. I have been an observer for quite sometime and am impressed with all the information you guys have here. I thought I would share my e-mail from the Austonian.

"Our groundbreaking ceremony is on August 31st and we will break ground the following week.


Thanks,

Ashlynn


Ashlynn Russey
Sales Manager
512.623.3633 ofc
512.626.9111 mb
ashlynn@theaustonian.com
The Austonian
A higher level of living
300 W. 6th Street
www.theaustonian.com"

Edit/Delete Message

[JAM]

From 100 Congress Management:

100 Congress Visitor Parking NEW INFORMATION:
As previously noted, we have received notification that the construction of the Austonian will begin soon. The project is scheduled to continue but our deadline to relinquish the lot has been changed from August 29th to September 7th. We will relinquish the visitor parking lot at 2nd and Congress at midnight on Friday, September 7th. Beginning on Monday, September 10th, visitor parking will be valet service only until further notice.

[Stu]

682 feet is plenty tall.

[10023]

http://images16.fotki.com/v300/photos/5/54967/2949615/Tower_FromBenWhite-vi.jpg

Nice looking tower, but can you please crop the Wal-Mart Supercenter out of this picture? I mean, for god's sake...

[LSyd]

sweet.

-

[Jdawgboy]

Well the official groundbreaking for the Austonian was today so I guess we should start up the construction thread for this building...:banana:

Ambitious Austonian breaks ground
Austin Business Journal - 2:52 PM CDT Friday, August 31, 2007
The two-foot high mound of red dirt on the concrete parking lot at Second Street and Congress Avenue Friday morning belied the immensity of the elliptical structure that will soon rise there.

At 56 stories and 683 feet, the Austonian condo building will dominate the Austin skyline. Dozens of dignitaries, buyers, media representatives and project team members turned out this morning for a ceremony marking the groundbreaking of the unique building

"Austin is going through a transformation right now," says Terry Mitchell of Momark Development, the strategic marketing director for the project. "We're becoming a city that has a downtown that really beats and we're excited to be part of that."

Mayor Will Wynn and Sen. Kirk Watson also commented on the project and its impact on the city, later wielding shovels in the ceremonial groundbreaking. Benchmark Development, the Austin subsidiary of Spain's Grupo Villar Mir, is the developer behind the Austonian, which is scheduled for completion by early 2010.

"We're going to build a landmark in the city of Austin and in the state of Texas," says Tomas Garcia with Grupo Villar Mir. He says the company has secured all of the financing needed for the project through Spanish lenders.

For his part, Wynn says he believes the Austonian is a prime example of the residential demand in downtown Austin. "Urbane, mixed-use density has dramatic benefits economically, environmentally and socially," he says.

The 188-unit building will include as much as 17,000 square feet of ground floor and mezzanine-level retail fronting Congress and Second. CB Richard Ellis is handling the leasing on that portion of the project, which some team members believe could end up being an urban grocery market of some kind.

With unit prices starting at $500,000, the Austonian may be the most ambitious of the numerous downtown condo developments. But demand among those projects already underway appears to be strong. About 40 percent, or 96 of the units, in the Spring project near Lamar Avenue and 5th Street are already sold and Larry Warshaw, one of the partners in that development says prices will soon go up on certain unit types. Meanwhile, about 90 percent of the 430-unit 360 project are under contract.

[WonderlandPark]

When you start a thread, you gotta put up some pics :) :) from the urbanliving 2000 website:

Congrats on *another* new tallest.

http://www.urbanliving2000.com/images/Austonian1.jpg

[Jdawgboy]

When you start a thread, you gotta put up some pics :) :) from the urbanliving 2000 website:


Yea I know I actually didn't have a pic to post and I was looking for an updated rendering because the one you put up is not how it will end up looking the difference is the halo or ring around the top just below the crown. That has been removed, but other than that it should look about the same.

[WonderlandPark]

OK, this shot will do for the moment, and I will delete it when something new comes along.

[FastFerrari82]

when is prep gonna start?

[Jdawgboy]

well they fenced up the site after the ground breaking I would assume they are going to start doing something after Labor Day.

[Saddle Man]

Thought the Austonian could use a bump since there's been an offical groundbreaking.

[Jdawgboy]

I did make a thread in the highrise construction thread for this building but seeing as how they havn't done anything els yet since groundbreaking it nothings going on with it.

[hi123]

have they started it yet? :shrug:

[GoldenBoot]

have they started it yet? :shrug:


Earthmovers should begin work within the next few weeks...

[Stephenapolis]

Hope to see this one rise. This is one sharp looking tower. It helps add both height and desity to the skyline of Austin.

[GoldenBoot]

Erection of the covered pedestrian walkways started today. Earth-movers should arrive within a week or two...

[trvlr70]

Have they started caisson drilling or has anything else been built that will be part of its permanent structure? If not, this building should not be in the constuction thread. Site prep is what is sounds like to me.

[KevinFromTexas]

I haven't been by the site in a while to see. Anyone know what they're doing there thus far?

[Jdawgboy]

They have put up barracades up and the coverd walkways at least along 2nd Street and probably starting along Congress today. They do have some equpment on the site already but Im sure we will see the Heavy movers as Goldenboot mentioned in a week or so.

[KevinFromTexas]

I was by there tonight and took a peek. The parking lot looks to still be intact, but there's a pile of dirt (groundbreaking dirt?) The buildings on the west side of the site are gone though.

[ontheroad]

Sleak stuff, can't wait to see the progress!

[JoMo]

It has Started. I walked by at lunch time and saw that most of the parking lot has been ripped out already.:banana:

[KevinFromTexas]

With them ripping up the parking lot and starting the actual site prep, I've gone ahead and merged these two threads in 'Highrise construction'.

Also, I sent David Mahn an email. David is the vice president of Benchmark Development who is developing The Austonian. I asked him if the height of the building has changed at all with the elimination of the ring around the top. He double checked for me with Bob Albanese from his office to confirm the heights, and said yes, the heights we have listed (683 feet) are still good.

[priller]

Site prep happening last Sunday:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1140/1466317132_acaea2d0c5_o.jpg

Piles of dirt:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/1466317474_671d0dac44_o.jpg

I noticed one day this week they had dump trucks coming by hauling off all the dirt. I'll try to swing by there tomorrow on the way to the office to see if I can get a few shots.

[texboy]

I'll be keepin y'all updated on this project through out next semester as I will be an intern on this project with the contruction company building it.

[CHAPINM1]

I'll be keepin y'all updated on this project through out next semester as I will be an intern on this project with the contruction company building it.

Thanks in advance! Your efforts and contributions will be very much appreciated... ;)

[FastFerrari82]

boy i cant wait to get back to texas and see the sites... Austin and San Antonio and Dallas all will be differnt in 2 years time! ! this is gonna b a SICK building..maybe one of the best in TeXaS ! !! !

[dallasbrink]

THis tower is cool, looks like a cowboy hat at the top.

[Mopacs]

Here are a few shots I took this past Saturday (10/6):

http://images28.fotki.com/v1029/photos/5/54967/4687436/DSC_5553-vi.jpg


http://images27.fotki.com/v1023/photos/5/54967/4687436/DSC_5557-vi.jpg

http://images29.fotki.com/v1035/photos/5/54967/4687436/DSC_5561-vi.jpg

From the top floor of the Raddison hotel...

http://images28.fotki.com/v1029/photos/5/54967/4687436/DSC_5584-vi.jpg