[scraperfetish]

Just about every report that I've heard about the proposed new Frost Bank Tower indicates that the stakeholders want the building to be "iconic" and that it should galvanize a lot of future downtown development, such as the Frost Bank in Austin is and has done. Here's hoping the same thing.

One thing that the designers are sure of: the building will not feature the same earth tones which currently blanket the majority of SATX downtown buildings. There are rumblings that the new Frost Bank building will be the new tallest building in the city, barring, perhaps, the Torre de las Americas. However, Emporis estimates that the Frost building may reach 50 stories (Hallelujah and at last!) to a height of 652' (which is about right for 50 stories) and is scheduled to be completed in around 2018 (apropos because the Tower of the Americas will be 50 years old in 2018). If built according to these estimates, the Frost Bank would eclipse the Tower of the Americas (at 622') by 30 feet, hardly noticeable from a distance, but still a triumph. These proposed dimensions could and probably will change given the obvious affinity that some SATX historical preservation groups/planners have with short, fat buildings.

What would be really cool would be if the Frost Bank Tower could climb to at least 752', causing it to overtake the Tower of the America's total height (which is 750', including the antenna).

The energetic and savvy folks at the Weston Development Group are steering this Frost Bank effort so who knows for sure? Stay tuned...