Here’s Our First Look at the Downtown Austin Condo Tower at 14th and Lavaca

A view of the 14th and Lavaca tower’s rooftop amenity level. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

The 32-story residential tower planned by local developer Pearlstone Partners is set to bring approximately 220 new residences to the southwest corner of West 14th and Lavaca Streets near the Capitol in downtown — but we still haven’t gotten a look at the as-yet-unnamed building’s appearance from architects STG Design. Let’s fix that:

A view of the tower’s northeast corner. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

A view of the tower’s southeast corner. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

Looking at the tower’s northeast corner from the street level, with the influence of the Westgate Tower looming large a few blocks south down Lavaca Street. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

At first glance, we think the tower’s handsome dark color palette and unexpected use of masonry elements along its full facade represent a welcome change from the typical (and economical) blue glass-heavy design we see on nearly every new residential building downtown. Personally, we’ll take all the bricks you’ve got.

Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

A closer look at the design of the north facade of the tower’s lobby and parking podium, facing West 14th Street. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

In fact, with the arrival of this design it’s fair to say the use of brick has become a defining element of downtown’s northwest corner adjacent to the Capitol — that’s a tone initially set by the divisive, but iconic Westgate Tower. Love it or hate it, the Westgate has now influenced the design of at least two residential towers proposed in the region, and personally we think it’s pretty neat to see a sort of local architectural vernacular taking shape over here, however minor.

A view of the tower’s southwest corner, with the Capitol in the background. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

A view of the tower’s southeast corner and amenity deck atop its parking/lobby podium. Image: Pearlstone Partners / STG Design

While the cosmetic elements of the design are still in flux and probably subject to change somewhat, it’s interesting to see the direction Pearlstone is taking this tower — it’s a departure from the developer’s own portfolio, and a welcome addition to a formerly-sleepy corner of downtown, where new growth now anticipates the arrival of an underground rail transit station via Project Connect. The 14th and Lavaca tower is still currently in the permitting phase, but with its site now cleared and ready for action, we’re anticipating a groundbreaking any time now.