Raising the design bar

The evolution of Austin’s skyline has, generally, come in fits and starts. The first downtown high-rise wave began in the 1980s, with large granite and limestone office buildings erected to house employees of the region’s growing banks, law firms and professional services providers. The next round began in the early 2000s and included the 33-story Frost Bank Tower, the first new office tower to be built downtown since the 1980s. When Frost Bank Tower debuted in late 2003, it became a landmark. Topped with a signature translucent crown, it was the city’s tallest building at the time, and its dynamic glass design marked a departure from tradition.

The Bowie

Project type: Apartments

Address: 311 Bowie St.

Stories: 36

Status: Complete

Today, with hotel and residential development driving the building boom, design expectations have risen, architects say. “In the past, the thinking by a number of developers building here was ‘Austin is a secondary market so we don’t really need to put as much design effort into a building here as we would be putting into one in Houston or Dallas or Chicago,’” said Brett Rhode of architecture firm Rhode: Partners. “I think the ante has been upped over the course of the past five years. The bar is being set higher.”

Fairmont

Project type: Hotel

Address: 101 Red River St.

Stories: 37

Status: Under construction

Rhode’s firm is designing the Independent, the talked-about tower due to break ground early next year on downtown’s southwestern edge. With the Independent, Rhode said, “We felt this was a great opportunity to push the envelope a little bit and start talking about some different ideas. It was a little controversial at first, we were a little nervous. But the more input we’re getting, we feel confident it was the right thing.”

Fifth & West Residences

Project type: Condos

Address: 501 West Ave.

Stories: 39

Status: Under construction

Austin architect Michael Hsu said that, in the past, Austin downtown projects have intentionally taken a low-key design approach that doesn’t draw attention. But he said that’s changing, and that the city is ready. “We’re still afraid of big towers that maybe are really ostentatious,” said Hsu, whose recent projects include Fifth & West, a 39-story condo tower under construction downtown. “But I think it’s the job of the skyscraper to sort of be that. To not be apologetic, to hold its place in a city and be an icon.” Hsu said that’s the role the Independent is playing. “I’m really excited about it because of its height and what it’s going to do to change the scale of downtown,” Hsu said.

Northshore

Project type: Apartments/retail/office

Address: 110 San Antonio St.

Stories: 38

Status: Under construction