Just about every day I leave my driveway, turn and look up to see the The Independent looming in front of me. Sometimes I lower the visor.

When I get to my office, I can’t help but look out the window see it across the way, and I still ask myself “Is that real — did we really do that?” And by “we” I mean the hundreds of talented people I was so privileged to work with on this endeavor. And an enormous endeavor it was.

It started with the usual momentous phone call, but this time on a lazy Saturday morning. Ryan Fetgatter with Aspen Heights called to tell me that we were together going to design and build one of the most important buildings ever to hit Austin. This call came completely out of the blue.

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Our firm had worked with Ryan and Aspen Heights on the 8th and Nueces tower, but I had no idea they were looking to do another project — especially of this magnitude. I hung up the phone and immediately sat down on the edge of the bed and told my wife, Wendy. She said “wow — that’s great!” — with more than just a hint of incredulity.

As with most endeavors of this sort, the challenges were only partially known at the start, and became rather momentous as we moved further into it. The site was beset with numerous sins of the past, including a forgotten street and errant subterranean waterworks on the front half. Shoal Creek around the north and east sides, and to round things out a Capitol view corridor to the west.

All this left a small patch of ground to build a tower. We decided to go for it.

I wanted the building to be an honest expression and let the form, the beauty of the building come from within. Like the great jazz composer Bill Evans said, “focus on truth and beauty — forget the rest”.

We let the condominiums drive the form of the building and in this way, we got the “truth." But I think we got some beauty along the way, and to me this is the best kind.

The structure made it happen, and I am grateful to Roger Heeringa and Kris Swanson with DCI Engineers who helped us marry structure to the concept. People still ask me if I think the building will topple over. I refer them to Roger and Kris.

As for the top of the building, I appreciate all of the commentary, but this is where we provide stability and services to make the condominiums comfortable, and we expressed this the best we could in the most honest way possible.

I am so proud to have been a part of the amazing group of people who put their hearts and souls into this project. I hope it contributes in some way to the conversation and inspires others to be bold on the skyline.