AUSTIN | The Thompson (5th & Brazos) | 355 FEET | 31 FLOORS | Complete
 

This one was first rumored a few weeks back, but it's official now. The article says the elevations show it to be 504 feet tall with 47 floors.

At 504 feet tall, it would be Austin's 4th tallest with the city's 3rd highest roof height.

http://buildingatx.com/2013/08/exclu...or-5th-brazos/
http://i.imgur.com/EK9YBCL.jpg
http://buildingatx.com/2013/08/exclu...or-5th-brazos/

http://i.imgur.com/HGyDdgD.jpg
http://buildingatx.com/2013/08/exclu...or-5th-brazos/

http://i.imgur.com/j8iNRlk.jpg
http://buildingatx.com/2013/08/exclu...or-5th-brazos/

Love it, just needs to break 50 floors, what's all this 47, 48 floor crap lol

Does the building get wider as it reaches the top or is it just an illusion of some sort that only I see?

It's your own personal illusion.:)

Rendering illusion, I think.

I do like the base. The asymmetry on each face and myriad of rectangular/L-shaped areas and setbacks, indoor/outdoor integration and faux-floating staircase subtly remind me of the Usonian Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

The lower tower smaller windows seem to have a copper reflection in the renders. Different color glass maybe?

All that said, here is something that will make you sad. Check out the building the same group (Magellan and Wanxiang) are doing in Nashville. It's only 33 stories, but wow is it awesome. I wonder, would Austinites trade the 47 story height for a design like this one?

http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pb...ry-SoBro-tower

(link from BuildingATX site / image from the Tennessean online: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20...ry-SoBro-tower)

I must say I disagree, I love the clean lines of this building, but I'm not fond at all of the current design for the Nashville tower, curves in buildings like that are too tacky and resort-y for me. The original design of the SoBro tower was eons better. This new Austin proposal is tall, sleek and spectacular. :D I just keep picturing seeing this and the Westin from behind while standing on 6th Street. It'll be like "Dorothy, we're not in the old Austin anymore." :tup:

Quite a pretty glass box we've got here. It looks a bit taller than 504 feet in the rendering though.

Wouldn't that block some of the view of Frost from the East at its current location?

This is the location. Currently half the lot is a parking lot while the other half is a drive through bank.

http://goo.gl/maps/1S8mL

So yes, it will block the view of Frost from the northeast. It isn't directly east of Frost, but it will block the view just the same when you're north/northeast of it.

I took these before the official announcement of this building. I'm glad I did because it shows how it'll appear on the skyline from this spot. Unfortunately I think it'll be hidden from view by The Bowie.

http://i.imgur.com/1XHaNAO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/V4zmCCh.jpg

I walked by the drive through bank this morning and there's now a sign saying it will be permanently closed by the end of the month.

Sounds like this might be a serious proposal then. That's pretty fast to be already kicking out businesses while still going through permits. Wonder if that means they have financing already lined up.

It was supposed to have happened two weeks ago: DAB

Magellan is a big time developer. I assume they have no problem getting funding.

I like it. And I like it quite a lot better than the Nashville design, personally.

And with a name like WanXiang, I'm sure they have the money for it. Just saying.

The Statesman has the story now:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi...-brazos/nZbNh/

The Statesman is quoting a Rep. from the Magellan Group in the article. The start date would be mid to late 2014 at the earliest and the final height has not been determined, but it will be between 35 and 50 stories. So the 50 is not a guarantee at this point.

The guy who I heard this from did tell me that it'd be between 40-50 stories, so that quote jives.

The Cruiser?

Yeah.

Nor is the design. The current renderings are early conceptions and the rep from Magellan said they are not ready to release any further renderings at this time. On a positive note, he did say they are not afraid to go tall.

Whew!