• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

TOWERS

Austin city life since 2007.

  • News
    • Condo Projects
    • Neighborhoods
  • Listings
    • Austin Condo Guide
  • Newsletter
Search
You are here: Home / News / Here’s Tower 5C, Bringing 41 Eye-Catching Floors to Fifth and Colorado
Search suggestions: condos for sale • rainey street

Here’s Tower 5C, Bringing 41 Eye-Catching Floors to Fifth and Colorado

James Rambin May 20, 2020 Comment

Looking at the 5C project from the corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets. Image: Gensler Austin / TBG Partners / Ryan Companies

Though the concept of office buildings in general is taking a light beating in recent months, a 41-floor office and retail project by developer Ryan Companies is moving forward after securing a Density Bonus recommendation earlier this week from the City of Austin’s Design Commission. That’s good news for people who like interesting buildings, because the Gensler Austin-designed Tower 5C — a name denoting its location at the southeast corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets — is a tower different in appearance from anything we’ve seen going up downtown lately.


The future home of Tower 5C at the corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets.

For one thing, its footprint is that of a squircle — a square with curved corners, if you don’t want to use that awkward word — with those curves traveling up the building all the way to its tapered crown. There’s barely a right angle to be found here, giving the tower the feel of a high-end consumer electronics product, something designed by Apple in California or maybe a fancy Sonos speaker. (Or, like, an alien spacecraft.)

An aerial view of the full 5C project, looking roughly southeast. Image: Gensler Austin / Ryan Companies

The building, which will bring 465,900 square feet of office space downtown, still contains a large parking podium — but like Gensler’s 500 West Second Street project, it’s not obviously visually separated from the occupied section of the tower, clad in the same striking dark gray glass curtain walls and sporting the same curves as the rest. It’s an unfortunate design trend, or perhaps more accurately an unfortunate code-driven design trend, that so many new towers seem to start with a bland parking structure as a base, then design something interesting on top of it — rather than treating the structure as a single, visually cohesive design product.

Looking west down West Fifth Street at the 5C project, with cameo appearances from Ryan Companies’ BBVA residential tower and the Gensler Austin-designed 6 X Guadalupe tower. Image: Gensler Austin / Ryan Companies

This isn’t really the fault of the architects, but rather the developers willing to pay extra for a tower that either excavates its parking or does something genuinely interesting with the podium — so let’s do some golf claps for Ryan Companies and its equity partner PGIM for going the extra mile with 5C, I suppose. It clearly pays off here.

An aerial view of the tower’s frontage along West Fifth Street. Image: Gensler Austin / TBG Partners / Ryan Companies

But more important to us and the Design Commission is how the project works for people, and Gensler Austin project designer George Blume provided a good overview of what’s in store at the Commission’s meeting Monday night. 5C is what’s known as a side-core building, meaning its elevator shafts, stairwells, and other mechanicals are all pushed to the southern end of the tower — most skyscrapers are designed around a central core, meaning a side-core design maximizes uninterrupted square footage on each floor and allows for a “more open and collaborative workspace,” per Blume.

A floor plan of the 5C project’s ground level. Image: Gensler Austin / TBG Partners / Ryan Companies

This core location also gives us a lot of open space on the ground floor, and this is where 5C contains 2,332 square feet of retail space, split between “Retail A” and “Retail B” spaces, along with its lobby. The “Retail A” space is tiny — Blume explains it’s roughly the same size as the original Jo’s Coffee on South Congress Avenue — and is designed as a grab-and-go establishment allowing informal dining in the adjacent lobby with additional seating spilling out onto the patio-style space designed by local landscape architects TBG Partners at the corner of West Fifth and Colorado Streets.

A view of the tower’s frontage looking towards Colorado Street from West Fifth Street. Image: Gensler Austin / TBG Partners / Ryan Companies

Blume says Gensler recognizes the importance of this corner as one of the city’s most active, and the tower’s design placing all the unsightly bits at the opposite ends from the corner — along with only one curb cut for garage access — allows for more activation than usual along the West Fifth and Colorado Street frontages, with the larger “Retail B” space also suitable for a restaurant and outdoor dining. Another fun detail here is a seperate “Bike Lobby” entrance off Colorado Street, which contains a private elevator up to a secure bike storage space for commuting office workers — don’t worry, the building also contains showers. 

An aerial view of the tower’s ground level from Colorado Street. Image: Gensler Austin / TBG Partners / Ryan Companies

This project, along with Ryan Companies’ pleasingly narrow residential building planned across town, could reportedly break ground by January 2021. We hope that’s the case, because Tower 5C points to an interesting future if Austin keeps putting up towers — it’s nice to see some curves on these things every now and then.

Latest Downtown Austin Condos For Sale

  • $685,000 603 Davis Street #1509
    Austin, TX
  • $1,400,000 501 West Avenue #1401
    Austin, TX
  • $3,100,000 210 Lavaca Street #2611
    Austin, TX
  • $850,000 360 Nueces Street #4002
    Austin, TX
  • $490,000 222 West Avenue #2009
    Austin, TX
  • $400,000 54 Rainey Street #320
    Austin, TX
  • $655,000 301 West Avenue #3202
    Austin, TX
  • $600,000 603 Davis Street #2001
    Austin, TX
  • $563,000 48 E East Avenue #2207
    Austin, TX
  • $579,000 48 East Avenue #2406
    Austin, TX
  • $558,000 48 E East Avenue #1706
    Austin, TX
  • $1,825,000 202 Nueces Street #1405
    Austin, TX
  • $625,000 301 West Avenue #2802
    Austin, TX
  • $994,410 44 East Avenue #1610
    Austin, TX
  • $1,722,500 44 East Avenue #3507
    Austin, TX
603 Davis Street #1509
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #1509, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2069186)
$685,000
Lot Size
436 sqft

Home Size
1,286 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

501 West Avenue #1401
Austin, TX
Photo of 501  West Avenue #1401, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8575815)
$1,400,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,587 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

210 Lavaca Street #2611
Austin, TX
Photo of 210  Lavaca Street #2611, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9788294)
$3,100,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
2,846 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
4 Baths

360 Nueces Street #4002
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #4002, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4845344)
$850,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,059 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

222 West Avenue #2009
Austin, TX
Photo of 222  West Avenue #2009, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2437901)
$490,000
Lot Size
436 sqft

Home Size
685 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

54 Rainey Street #320
Austin, TX
Photo of 54  Rainey Street #320, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1130045)
$400,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
750 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

301 West Avenue #3202
Austin, TX
Photo of 301  West Avenue #3202, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8776234)
$655,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
684 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

603 Davis Street #2001
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #2001, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7079228)
$600,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,005 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

48 E East Avenue #2207
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 E East Avenue #2207, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2962968)
$563,000
Lot Size
17,860 sqft

Home Size
699 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

48 East Avenue #2406
Austin, TX
Photo of 48  East Avenue #2406, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5110993)
$579,000
Lot Size
17,860 sqft

Home Size
740 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

48 E East Avenue #1706
Austin, TX
Photo of 48 E East Avenue #1706, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1759176)
$558,000
Lot Size
17,860 sqft

Home Size
740 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

202 Nueces Street #1405
Austin, TX
Photo of 202  Nueces Street #1405, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2675468)
$1,825,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,646 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

301 West Avenue #2802
Austin, TX
Photo of 301  West Avenue #2802, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8014154)
$625,000
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
684 sqft

Beds
1 Bed

Baths
1 Bath

44 East Avenue #1610
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #1610, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8056295)
$994,410
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,260 sqft

Beds
2 Beds

Baths
2 Baths

44 East Avenue #3507
Austin, TX
Photo of 44  East Avenue #3507, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5959136)
$1,722,500
Lot Size
N/A

Home Size
1,993 sqft

Beds
3 Beds

Baths
3 Baths

  • 603 Davis Street #1509
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603  Davis Street #1509, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2069186)
    $685,000
    Lot Size
    436 sqft

    Home Size
    1,286 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 501 West Avenue #1401
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 501  West Avenue #1401, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8575815)
    $1,400,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,587 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 210 Lavaca Street #2611
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 210  Lavaca Street #2611, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 9788294)
    $3,100,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    2,846 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    4 Baths

  • 360 Nueces Street #4002
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 360  Nueces Street #4002, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4845344)
    $850,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,059 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 222 West Avenue #2009
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 222  West Avenue #2009, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2437901)
    $490,000
    Lot Size
    436 sqft

    Home Size
    685 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 54 Rainey Street #320
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 54  Rainey Street #320, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1130045)
    $400,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    750 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 301 West Avenue #3202
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 301  West Avenue #3202, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8776234)
    $655,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    684 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 603 Davis Street #2001
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 603  Davis Street #2001, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7079228)
    $600,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,005 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 48 E East Avenue #2207
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48 E East Avenue #2207, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2962968)
    $563,000
    Lot Size
    17,860 sqft

    Home Size
    699 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 48 East Avenue #2406
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48  East Avenue #2406, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5110993)
    $579,000
    Lot Size
    17,860 sqft

    Home Size
    740 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 48 E East Avenue #1706
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 48 E East Avenue #1706, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 1759176)
    $558,000
    Lot Size
    17,860 sqft

    Home Size
    740 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 202 Nueces Street #1405
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 202  Nueces Street #1405, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2675468)
    $1,825,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,646 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

  • 301 West Avenue #2802
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 301  West Avenue #2802, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8014154)
    $625,000
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    684 sqft

    Beds
    1 Bed

    Baths
    1 Bath

  • 44 East Avenue #1610
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 44  East Avenue #1610, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 8056295)
    $994,410
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,260 sqft

    Beds
    2 Beds

    Baths
    2 Baths

  • 44 East Avenue #3507
    Austin, TX
    Photo of 44  East Avenue #3507, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 5959136)
    $1,722,500
    Lot Size
    N/A

    Home Size
    1,993 sqft

    Beds
    3 Beds

    Baths
    3 Baths

Previous Next
 

Editor's Suggested Posts

Meet Tower 5C, a 41-Story Office Project for West Fifth and Colorado

Meet Tower 5C, a 41-Story Office Project for West Fifth and Colorado

Demolition Approved at West Sixth Sushi Bar, Making Way for 60 Floors

Demolition Approved at West Sixth Sushi Bar, Making Way for 60 Floors

Current Events Aside, Downtown Austin's BBVA Tower Plan Is Extremely Narrow

Current Events Aside, Downtown Austin's BBVA Tower Plan Is Extremely Narrow

Related

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 78701, architecture, design, development, offices, towers

About James Rambin

James is an Austin native, but tries not to brag about it. He writes about new development, local history, and urban design. Email him anything at james@towers.net.

603 Davis Street #2001
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #2001, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7079228)
$600,000
30
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,005 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour
Previous Post: « For Austin, 1978 Was the Year of Sacked Rattlesnakes
Next Post: A 1957 Midcentury Masterpiece Now for Sale on the Riverside Golf Course »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  •  Schedule a showing

Featured Buildings

  • 360 Condos
  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Milago Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • The Shore
  • W Hotel & Residences

FEATURED Listings

360 Nueces Street #1901
Austin, TX
Photo of 360  Nueces Street #1901, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 3546486)
$525,000
38
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    801 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

54 Rainey Street #1118
Austin, TX
Photo of 54  Rainey Street #1118, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 2023262)
$995,000
37
  • Lot Size
    436 sqft

  • Home Size
    1,956 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    3 Baths

800 W 5th Street #808
Austin, TX
Photo of 800 W 5th Street #808, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 4895650)
$1,699,900
40
  • Lot Size
    436 sqft

  • Home Size
    2,422 sqft

  • Beds
    2 Beds

  • Baths
    2 Baths

View Virtual Tour
109 E 10th Street
Austin, TX
Photo of 109 E 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 6369878)
$3,200,000
24
  • Lot Size
    2,614 sqft

  • Home Size
    4,916 sqft

  • Beds
    7 Beds

  • Baths
    4 Baths

603 Davis Street #2001
Austin, TX
Photo of 603  Davis Street #2001, Austin, TX 78701 (MLS # 7079228)
$600,000
30
  • Lot Size

  • Home Size
    1,005 sqft

  • Beds
    1 Bed

  • Baths
    1 Bath

View Virtual Tour

Footer

LEGAL NOTICE

TREC Information About Brokerage Services (pdf)

Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice


TOWERS realty

Browse Condo Listings

Agents

Downtown Buildings

Luxury Towers

  • Four Seasons Residences
  • W Hotel & Residences
  • The Austonian
  • 5 Fifty Five at Hilton

Most Popular

  • The Shore
  • 360 Condos
  • Seaholm Condos
  • Spring Condos
  • Milago Condos

New Construction

  • The Independent
  • 70 Rainey
  • Austin Proper
  • Fifth & West

Loft Style

  • Austin City Lofts
  • Brazos Place
  • The Sabine
  • Plaza Lofts
  • Avenue Lofts
  • Brazos Lofts
  • Brown Building

Resources

  • Austin Condo Guide
  • Condos For Sale
  • Condo Buyer FAQ
  • Property Search

Featured

Archives

Austin city life since 2007 · Newsletter · About · Contact Us · DMCA · Privacy Policy · SLAPP · Copyright © 2007-2021 TOWERS.net · All Rights Reserved