AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete

[the Genral]

Only 44 floors to go!

[HighGuy]

Quick question -- There is a blue, metal structural support installed under the southwest corner of the Independent, at the corner of 3rd and West. You can see it clearly in the picture The ATX posted (#1177) just below. It looks to me (a complete non-engineer) like it is both load-bearing and temporary. Does anyone know what ends up happening there? Couldn't find a rendering that answered the riddle. Cheers all!

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by HighGuy

Quick question -- There is a blue, metal structural support installed under the southwest corner of the Independent, at the corner of 3rd and West. You can see it clearly in the picture The ATX posted (#1177) just below. It looks to me (a complete non-engineer) like it is both load-bearing and temporary. Does anyone know what ends up happening there? Couldn't find a rendering that answered the riddle. Cheers all!

I've been wondering about that too ever since it was installed. If that corner needs a permanent support column why wasn't a cement column built? If no permanent support column is needed why is there a temporary one in place? So many questions...

[the Genral]

Aaaaaaaaaand now you both got me wondering about it. It does protrude out from the building with a protective fence. Maybe it will also temporarily support one of the upper floor offsets with an extension later on.

[wwmiv]

Alternative theory:

maybe the upper floor offsets remove the need for there to be a load bearing piece here at all, which requires a temporary load bearing structure until the building is finished only to be removed once the offsets have removed its need.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Alternative theory:

maybe the upper floor offsets remove the need for there to be a load bearing piece here at all, which requires a temporary load bearing structure until the building is finished only to be removed once the offsets have removed its need.

It's kinda like balancing a Jenga piece in just the right way so the whole thing doesn't topple over...only we don't have the privilege of temporary supports while placing our pieces in Jenga, nor are we investing millions of dollars on the move.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by drummer

It's kinda like balancing a Jenga piece in just the right way so the whole thing doesn't topple over...only we don't have the privilege of temporary supports while placing our pieces in Jenga, nor are we investing millions of dollars on the move.

Yes, it is clearly false work, but I can't provide any explanation on why it has not been removed yet.

[wwmiv]

Probably because it can't be removed yet?

[drummer]

My Jenga comment was intended to be a joke...but seriously, it's frustrating when you're trying to balance that one piece and it throws the balance off. I can understand why they'd add as many supports as needed until the engineers deem it safe to remove the temporary post.

[corvairkeith]

3/10/17

[drummer]

You can also see a little bit of Shoal Creek Walk in that last one. Thanks for the photos!

[Flatiron]

3/13/17

[xofr]

Some folks might enjoy these. I've watching this from the 360 since day one. Its a perfect birds eye view... for now.

[drummer]

The density of this area is outstanding for Austin and is only getting better. Knowing that Shoal Creek Walk (which you can see a bit on the far right) and 5th & West are being built in the area is pretty awesome also....and then Proper and 3rd & Shoal...and then what? I wonder where they're going stick something next?

I vote the parking lot south of the park (where the courthouse thankfully isn't going), and the ugly parking garage just to the west of it. I know they'd have to relocate the cooling systems on top of there, but I'm okay with that. And then Austin Ballet, but only so long as they have something to keep them in downtown to keep some of the arts in the area...

Independent's height is going to be great as we've always discussed the plateau effect. It's good that they got a prime spot before it was gone with something short and squatty.

[the Genral]

I'd be mourning the future loss of that current view from 360.

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by drummer

The density of this area is outstanding for Austin and is only getting better. Knowing that Shoal Creek Walk (which you can see a bit on the far right) and 5th & West are being built in the area is pretty awesome also....and then Proper and 3rd & Shoal...and then what? I wonder where they're going stick something next?

I vote the parking lot south of the park (where the courthouse thankfully isn't going), and the ugly parking garage just to the west of it. I know they'd have to relocate the cooling systems on top of there, but I'm okay with that. And then Austin Ballet, but only so long as they have something to keep them in downtown to keep some of the arts in the area...

Independent's height is going to be great as we've always discussed the plateau effect. It's good that they got a prime spot before it was gone with something short and squatty.

And the 4th, and final, GWTP building.

[lzppjb]

@xofr

Keep sharing those photos! You have a better angle than their webcam. Thanks

[Jdawgboy]

The biggest hurdle that area needs to cross is getting rid of the power substation. Those powerlines get in the way and is also using up valuble space. Right now I see it as a donut hole in the middle of what will become a vibrant area of DT. I know the city is heading in that direction but it will be several more years before we actually see some movement regarding that. Seaholm could play off having the substation seeing as how it was the power plant. Rather than sticking white poo art pieces, they could put some plaqes up by the colored wall that talk about the history of Seaholm.

Perfect example about getting rid of the power lines in the pictures above. Notice the pedestrian walkway which crosses over Shoal Creek basically dead ends at West Avenue. If those power lines weren't there, they could continue it down between the rows of parked cars. Shade it with trees down the center then continue on connecting to Lamar.

[wwmiv]

Could you at the least resize those images?

[xofr]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

The biggest hurdle that area needs to cross is getting rid of the power substation. Those powerlines get in the way and is also using up valuble space. Right now I see it as a donut hole in the middle of what will become a vibrant area of DT. I know the city is heading in that direction but it will be several more years before we actually see some movement regarding that. Seaholm could play off having the substation seeing as how it was the power plant. Rather than sticking white poo art pieces, they could put some plaqes up by the colored wall that talk about the history of Seaholm.

Perfect example about getting rid of the power lines in the pictures above. Notice the pedestrian walkway which crosses over Shoal Creek basically dead ends at West Avenue. If those power lines weren't there, they could continue it down between the rows of parked cars. Shade it with trees down the center then continue on connecting to Lamar.

I was reading somewhere that there is no plan to move the substation as it will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 million. It also services 3/4 of the city.