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Of all the American cities experiencing widespread transformation and revitalization, Austin is perhaps the most surprising. It's long been overshadowed by Houston and Dallas, but the Texas capital is quickly gaining ground in the development department. One look at the skyline will yield a forest of cranes and glass, emblematic of the city's strong demand for contemporary office space, hotels, and residences. Nine of the ten tallest buildings in Austin were built in the last 15 years. And there's a lot more to come, including a new tower that will take away the tallest title from the 2010-built Austonian.
The Independent began construction in January with a ceremonial ground breaking hosted by officials from Aspen Heights, Constructive Ventures Inc., and CIM Group. They're the development team behind the 58-storey, 209-metre tower, which will surpass the Austonian by just seven feet. Designed by Rhode Partners, the building of stacked blocks will hold 370 residences and two massive amenity areas. The ninth floor deck will contain an outdoor lounge, infinity pool, children's playroom, and dog park, while a theatre room, fitness centre, dining space, wine bar, and boardroom fill out the 34th floor.
The 36-storey Fairmont Austin is beginning to make a big impact on the skyline as the 1.4 million-square-foot hotel rises next to the Austin Convention Center. Designed by Gensler and spearheaded by Manchester Texas Financial Group, over 1,000 four-star rooms will be housed within the facility. With a prominent spire stretching to a height of 181 metres, the building will become the second tallest in the city when completed in 2017.
The tower crane for the 39-storey Fifth & West development was assembled in June as crews work towards hitting ground level on the 154-unit residential project. Riverside Resources and GDA Architects are behind the development and design of the building, which is expected to top out at 140 metres. A three-level amenity space with over 20,000 square feet of entertainment and recreation facilities gives meaning to the saying "everything's bigger in Texas." The sixth floor boasts an outdoor sky deck with a resort-style pool, gourmet demonstration kitchen, and fully equipped fitness centre. The building even holds a special place for residents' pets, where they can settle down in a refreshment area offering treats and water after a few laps around the grassy verandah.
The first office development on the list marks another addition to Gensler's architectural pedigree. They are teaming up with Trammell Crow Company on a 28-storey project at 500 West 2nd Street that is set to host over 500,000 square feet of rentable space. Multiple terraces interrupt the consistency of the glassed building, providing exciting views and access to the outdoors. A state-of-the-art fitness centre with lockers and showers joins a conference centre as two additional amenities offered to tenants.
Aloft and Element Austin brings a dual-branded hotel to historic Congress Avenue in the downtown core. This 32-storey development by White Lodging and HKS Architects is composed of 422 rooms and approximately 2,500 square feet of meeting space. Amenities to be shared between the two hotels include a street-level terrace and a 24-hour fitness centre. The public realm is strengthened by a restaurant and bar with a patio space spilling over onto the sidewalk. Cladding is making its way up the tower as crews advance on the expected 2017 delivery date.
The post-recession years have been favourable to Austin, where the pace of development seems to be accelerating even after a new assemblage of highrises has taken root in the core. Fuelled by a perfect storm of factors — population growth, a booming economy, and city-led initiatives to densify — Austin's built landscape is a rapidly changing microcosm of America's rekindled love of downtowns.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to sound off about other developments that are shaping Austin? Check out the Forum or leave a comment at the bottom of this page to get involved in the discussion.
| Related Companies: | Gensler |
