AUSTIN | Fairmont Hotel | 595 FEET/ SPIRE | 456 FEET/ROOF | 37 FLRS - Page 5

KevinFromTexas · #81 Posted **Jan 3, 2014, 8:29 PM**

Updated renderings. I gotta say, I'm thinking I like the original design more.

North

South

East

North

The ATX · #82 Posted **Jan 3, 2014, 11:18 PM**

Old or new, either way this is an awesome building. The way it will stand out on I35 as you're passing through Downtown Austin will be awesome.

The ATX · #83 Posted **Jan 7, 2014, 1:59 PM**

A large construction trailer was installed onsite this morning along Cesar Chavez. There was a lot of other activity onsite as well, but traffic kept me from getting a good view of it. It looks like the January start date is happening.

Urbannizer · #84 Posted **Jan 7, 2014, 10:31 PM**

I really like this revised design, very attractive. Good to hear this one is moving forward.

Thymant · #85 Posted **Jan 8, 2014, 6:02 AM**

Great news!

KevinFromTexas · #86 Posted **Mar 20, 2014, 5:54 AM**

Another step forward. They picked Hunt Construction and Hardin Construction which are doing two other under construction hotels in downtown - the 1,012 room JW Marriott Hotel, and the 300 room Westin Hotel.

http://www.statesman.com/news/busine...lion-fa/nfFy6/

Quote:

Posted: 11:54 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Developer hires builder for Austin’s $370 million Fairmont hotel

By Shonda Novak
American-Statesman Staff

The developer of a 47-story Fairmont hotel planned for downtown Austin has selected Hunt Construction Group to spearhead construction of the $370 million project.

Manchester Texas Financial Group LLC told the Austin American-Statesman it has awarded Hunt Construction Group a $247 million contract for construction of the luxury hotel, which is expected to take 32 months to complete. Hunt Construction Group is also teaming with Hardin Construction in building the JW Marriott convention hotel currently under construction at Congress Avenue between Second and Third streets.

Austin-based Manchester Texas has not released an updated timetable for starting construction on the hotel, which is slated for land that is now a parking lot at East Cesar Chavez and Red River streets, across from the Austin Convention Center.

wwmiv · #87 Posted **Mar 20, 2014, 6:06 AM**

They may have simply been waiting for enough workers to open up that it takes because of the scale of such a project, given that they hired the firm doing the JW.

MightyYoda · #88 Posted **Mar 20, 2014, 10:51 PM**

In a smaller city like Austin, I think you just hit logistical limitations when there are as many projects under construction as there are right now

KevinFromTexas · #89 Posted **Apr 1, 2014, 7:33 PM**

There have been some "happenings" at the site. We noticed they were doing soil samples. A few guys with hardhats were onsite with a small bulldozer, maybe a bobcat I guess, I didn't see it. And they've fenced off the site which had been used for parking up until now. They also put up some huge signs showing the building.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvATX

First photo post. Thanks for the how-to guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by priller

Here's the other sign. They're huge.

KevinFromTexas · #90 Posted **Oct 24, 2014, 3:37 AM**

Well now!

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/busi....257263.735529

Quote:

Financing in hand, $370 million Austin Fairmont project now a go

Posted: 10:01 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014

By Shonda Novak - American-Statesman Staff

The developer of a Fairmont convention hotel planned for downtown Austin has obtained financing for the project, clearing the way for the $370 million luxury hotel to break ground next month and add more than 1,000 rooms to the market.

Los Angeles-based Colony Capital LLC will finance the hotel, which will be built on a 1.74-acre site at East Cesar Chavez and Red River streets.

At 37 stories and rising 595 feet, the hotel would be one of the tallest buildings in Austin’s skyline when it opens. With 1,066 rooms, it would be the city’s largest hotel, surpassing the 34-story, 1,012-room JW Marriott convention center hotel that is currently under construction downtown and scheduled to open in February.

Groundbreaking for the Fairmont is scheduled for Nov. 3, with plans for it to open in June 2017.

From southwest.

From northeast.

The skybridge will connect to the convention center across the street.

JBinCalgary · #91 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 4:05 AM**

What a beauty!!

wwmiv · #92 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 4:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBinCalgary

What a beauty!!

Unfortunately, many here in Austin think this building is scourge of the earth hideous architecture because they believe they are entitled to a state of the art signature building on every lot for every proposal in downtown Austin.

Surrealplaces · #93 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 5:31 AM**

I liked the original design more, but the new is pretty solid too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Updated renderings. I gotta say, I'm thinking I like the original design more.

wwmiv · #94 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 5:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

I liked the original design more, but the new is pretty solid too.

I did, too, but I'll definitely take this tower.

JBinCalgary · #95 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 10:12 PM**

at the end of the day its not a Gehry, or a SNF, but its tasteful and fills up an empty lot

KevinFromTexas · #96 Posted **Oct 25, 2014, 10:53 PM**

I may even end up liking this one more than the JW Marriott. *GASP*

wwmiv · #97 Posted **Oct 26, 2014, 12:52 AM**

I love the JW Marriott save for that awful white stub tower ruining one side of it. This tower is taller, more beautiful, sleeker, glassier, and more stylish in every way.

KevinFromTexas · #98 Posted **Oct 29, 2014, 6:17 PM**

Ok, so I've been sending emails to Gensler and Manchester trying to get the heights. Someone from Manchester came back yesterday with info from Gensler. The heights are:

595 feet to the spire.

456 feet to the "crown" - this should be the top of the mechanical penthouse.

It's listed as 37 floors, but in reality there are only 36 actual occupied floors. The reason for the discrepancy is it's tradition in the hotel industry to skip the 13th floor. So they go from 12 straight to 14.

It will also have 4 levels underground for parking. She said is breaks ground in November.

She said the design is complete, but that a different architecture firm is handling the skybridge to the convention center.

wwmiv · #99 Posted **Oct 29, 2014, 8:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Ok, so I've been sending emails to Gensler and Manchester trying to get the heights. Someone from Manchester came back yesterday with info from Gensler. The heights are:

595 feet to the spire.

456 feet to the "crown" - this should be the top of the mechanical penthouse.

It's listed as 37 floors, but in reality there are only 36 actual occupied floors. The reason for the discrepancy is it's tradition in the hotel industry to skip the 13th floor. So they go from 12 straight to 14.

It will also have 4 levels underground for parking. She said is breaks ground in November.

She said the design is complete, but that a different architecture firm is handling the skybridge to the convention center.

Can you inquire about lighting?

KevinFromTexas · #**100** Posted **Oct 29, 2014, 11:55 PM**

I doubt the person I got the heights from would know.

Some of the renderings above for the older designs were hinting that the mechanical penthouse would be somewhat transparent. That could mean it could be lit from within. That could look really nice. I'm not sure how they'd light the spire, though, I'd bet they'd use LEDs.