Here’s a bold prediction for you — we’re going to get more residential towers in downtown Austin. When you follow this stuff, sometimes you come across buildings in the early stages of development that aren’t even far enough along in their design process for plans to exist, and those are the hard ones to write…
Implosion Planned at Block 71, Downtown’s First in More Than a Decade
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer building, but it appears downtown Austin’s first implosion in more than 11 years will take place at Block 71’s Ashbel Smith Hall tower sometime this spring. We’ve been hunting for answers since December of last year, when various permits were filed with the city for demolition at the site . . ….
Solving the Mystery of the ‘Moonscape’ at the Corner of Fifth and Bowie Streets
Q: Have you seen the concrete “moonscape” located at the corner of Fifth and Bowie Streets? What’s actually going on here? A: Many people have asked me if this is some kind of art project, or has something to do with the building next door. Okay, bear with me for a second — in April…
Inn Cahoots Heads to East Sixth
There’s been plenty of news out of East Austin lately regarding progress at the Plaza Saltillo TOD, but the general area’s identity remains one of funky bars and eateries. The recently-opened Native Hostel and Bar & Kitchen at 807 East Fourth Street is just that sort of establishment, and it was only a matter of time before another contender arrived on…
Prepare for the Moxy Hotel’s Extremely Authentic Arrival in West Campus
When plans first emerged last year for the West Campus development of a Moxy Hotel, Marriott International’s boutique-esque chain seemingly intended to corner the wallets of the millennial set, details were scarce enough that I spent most of my time ranting about the brand’s dreadful marketing, which appeared as adept at capturing the hearts and minds of young people as…
Don’t Look Now, but Gensler’s Teasing Austin About Its Next Downtown Tower
Note: See the bottom of this post for an update on these projects. With more than 44 offices and thousands of employees, you might call Gensler the Coca-Cola of architecture. But that’s not really doing its work justice — the mega-firm’s Austin office is pumping out some of the most interesting projects in the city…