The Austonian Explained

The Austonian
Highest Region:Austin
Highest Prev:360 Condominiums
Highest Start:2009
Highest End:2019
Highest Next:The Independent
Location:200 Congress Avenue
Austin
Coordinates:30.2648°N -97.7445°W
Building Type:Residential[1]
Start Date:August 31, 2007
Completion Date:2010
Opening:June 2010
Status:Complete
Antenna Spire:683abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Roof:683abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Top Floor:670abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Floor Count:56
Floor Area:590870square feet
Cost:Approx. $250 million[2]
Architect:Ziegler Cooper Architects
Structural Engineer:CBM Engineers
Main Contractor:Balfour Beatty Construction[3]
Developer:Benchmark Land Development
Owner:Benchmark Development

The Austonian is a residential skyscraper in Downtown Austin, Texas, USA. At 683feet tall with 56 floors, the building is the third tallest in Austin, overtaking the 360 Condominiums and behind The Independent and Sixth and Guadalupe.[4] It is also the third tallest building in Texas outside of Houston and Dallas, and the second tallest all-residential building in North America west of the Mississippi River.

History

The Austonian's groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 31, 2007.[5] 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.[6] On July 1, 2009, The Austonian overtook 360 Condominiums to become the tallest residential building in Austin.[7] The building's exterior was finished in 2010, a period of almost 2.5 years since its groundbreaking.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Austonian. SkyscraperPage.com. 2008-02-23.
  2. Web site: The Austonian. Downtown Austin Blog. July 14, 2016.
  3. Web site: Construction and Development Team. 2010-04-20. Theaustonian.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100723232913/http://www.theaustonian.com/team.php. 2010-07-23.
  4. Web site: The Austonian. Emporis.com. 2008-02-23. https://archive.today/20130409065617/http://www.emporis.com/building/the-austonian-austin-tx-usa#selection-881.1-881.13. 9 April 2013.
  5. Web site: The Austin Skyline Is About to Change. 2010-04-17. Findarticles.com.
  6. Web site: Downtown Austin: The Ties That Bind. 2010-04-17. Typepad.com.
  7. Web site: The Austonian Becomes the Tallest Building in Austin. 2010-04-17. Pitchengine.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111006150713/http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=16971. 2011-10-06.
  8. Web site: The Austonian Tower Exterior is Complete. 2010-04-17. Typepad.com.
  9. Web site: Women’s Symphony Leaguer Designer Showhouse at The Austonian Raises Money for Austin Symphony Music Education Programs for Children. 2011-05-24. Typepad.com.
  10. Web site: Austin high-rise wins 'green' award. 2011-05-24. kxan.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101113201552/http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin-high-rise-wins-green-award. 2010-11-13.
  11. Web site: Balconies repaired after concrete falls off one of Austin's tallest buildings. Erin. Cargile. 19 November 2018. 20 November 2018. kxan.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816131105/https://www.kxan.com/investigations/balconies-repaired-after-concrete-falls-off-one-of-austins-tallest-buildings. 2022-08-16.