Bank of America Center, the current name for a 26-story office tower at 515 Congress Avenue, might be best described as “austere.” Completed in 1975 as the Austin National Bank Tower, the building’s dark, monolithic appearance helps you decide whether you love it or hate it pretty quick. But compared to the tower’s heyday of the 1970s,…
Guesthouse Hotel Project Heads to an Unlikely Site on South Congress
As we all drag collective ass into the new year, it’s nice to nostalgize about a time not so long ago when Austin’s “hotel shortage” was something people worried about. That’s certainly not the case these days, with thousands of new rooms either built, underway, or planned across town. Outside of your Fairmonts and
In the Rainey Street District, You Can Learn a Lot From a Sign
Here’s a couple of signs, just doing some sign stuff over at 56 East Avenue. As far as the map’s concerned, this 1.12-acre site is one block removed from the Rainey Street District’s hustle and bustle, but it’s functionally a lot closer, a building sitting in the shadow of condo and apartment towers against the eastern…
Taking a Closer Look at Downtown Austin’s New MetroRail Station
We’ve known for some time that changes were on the way for downtown Austin’s MetroRail station. Despite the fact that its existing platform on East Fourth Street opened more than seven years ago, it was always intended as a temporary solution, with a more permanent station to be built later. Thanks to a $22 million grant from the…
East Austin Apartment Project Will Fit 7 Units Into a Tiny Plot, Tetris-Style
As Austin’s inevitable growth chugs along, one of the more interesting side effects of the city’s sky-high land values is a need for clever, compact architecture, in order to maximize the value of small and challenging pieces of property. These are scraps of land you wouldn’t necessarily, as a developer, choose to build upon if…
Mixed-Use Development Planned in North Loop’s Grittiest Corner
North Loop’s a great neighborhood, but it’s not particularly dense. The eastern boundary of the region, which is generally agreed to end around Airport Boulevard, is known for its interesting restaurants and such, but as you go north towards East Koenig Lane (also known as Texas State Highway Spur 69), the attractions dry up a little. North…