The Austonian
The Austonian is a residential skyscraper in Downtown Austin, Texas, USA. At 683 feet (208 m) tall with 56 floors, the building is the second tallest in Austin, overtaking the 360 Condominiums and behind The Independent.[4] It is also the second tallest building in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas, and the second tallest all-residential building in North America west of the Mississippi River (both behind The Independent).[5]
The Austonian | |
---|---|
Record height | |
Tallest in Austin from 2009 to 2019[I] | |
Preceded by | 360 Condominiums |
Surpassed by | The Independent |
General information | |
Status | Completed |
Type | Residential[1] |
Location | 200 Congress Avenue Austin |
Coordinates | 30.264781°N 97.744461°W |
Construction started | August 31, 2007[1] |
Completed | 2010[1] |
Opening | June 2010[1] |
Cost | Approx. $250 million[2] |
Owner | Benchmark Development |
Height | |
Antenna spire | 683 ft (208 m)[1] |
Roof | 683 ft (208 m)[1] |
Top floor | 670 ft (204 m)[1] |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 56[1] |
Floor area | 590,870 square feet (54,890 m2)[1] |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Ziegler Cooper Architects[1] |
Developer | Benchmark Land Development[1] |
Structural engineer | CBM Engineers[3] |
Main contractor | Balfour Beatty Construction[3] |
Website | |
www |
History
The Austonian's groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 31, 2007.[6] On June 4, 2009, the 47th floor of the Austonian was poured, meaning the Austonian surpassed the Frost Bank Tower to become the second-tallest building in Austin, Texas.[7] On July 1, 2009, The Austonian overtook 360 Condominiums to become the tallest residential building in Austin.[8] The building's exterior was finished in 2010, a period of almost 2.5 years since its groundbreaking.[9] The Austonian opened to host the 2010 Women's Symphony League Designer Showhouse the weekend of May 15–16, 2010. The Showhouse was the last opportunity for the public to see the property before residents began moving in the building in June 2010.[10] The Austonian received a four-star rating from Austin Energy Green Building in November 2010, making it the only residential high-rise building in Downtown Austin to receive such a rating.[11]
In 2015, after a number of concrete spalls had fallen from balconies, it was discovered that the balconies had been constructed improperly - water was able to get into the steel rebar, causing them to rust and expand, due to the steel rebar being too close to the outside edge of the concrete slab. Repairs were estimated to cost in excess of $13 million, and were completed in 2019.[12]
References
- "The Austonian". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- "The Austonian". Downtown Austin Blog. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- "Construction and Development Team". Theaustonian.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
- "The Austonian". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- "Austonian Proceeds: To be Tallest Residential Building West of Mississippi". Austintowers.net. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
- "The Austin Skyline Is About to Change". Findarticles.com. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- "Downtown Austin: The Ties That Bind". Typepad.com. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- "The Austonian Becomes the Tallest Building in Austin". Pitchengine.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- "The Austonian Tower Exterior is Complete". Typepad.com. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- "Women's Symphony Leaguer Designer Showhouse at The Austonian Raises Money for Austin Symphony Music Education Programs for Children". Typepad.com. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
- "Austin high-rise wins 'green' award". kxan.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-13. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
- Cargile, Erin (19 November 2018). "Balconies repaired after concrete falls off one of Austin's tallest buildings". kxan.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-16. Retrieved 20 November 2018.