AUSTIN, April 25, 2010 - At 56 stories and 683 feet tall, Austin’s tallest new building is nearing completion and is expected to redefine the established notion of luxury and landscape in Austin real estate. Designed by Ziegler Cooper Architects and landscape architecture firm TBG Partners, the new downtown luxury condominium tower The Austonian combines unparalleled amenities and services with sustainable, environmentally friendly architecture and design, articulating an upscale, Texas-oriented theme. In addition to its 178 condo units, the development features a compelling progression of spaces, each of which reflects its own distinct sense of place and functionality. These highly detailed spaces — consisting of the street level, 10th floor Texas backyard/urban garden and 55th floor rooftop viewing terrace — integrate creative, urban and sustainable solutions to achieve an ideal balance between quality, lifestyle and stewardship.

STREETSCAPE
At the street level, TBG’s design incorporates high-end materials and pedestrian-oriented elements to celebrate the urban setting and establish a superior downtown streetscape environment. The streetscape design conforms to the City of Austin Great Streets program but also deviates from the standard with the inclusion of several unique outdoor spaces not common to downtown Austin. In keeping with Great Streets program, TBG Partners incorporated standard paving materials, street trees and furnishings for the areas along the curb line, however, for areas along the building, TBG incorporated a series of distinctive spaces defined by planters, trellises and landscape materials.

On Second Street, a dining space on the southeast corner includes a grouping of four stone columns capped with a suspended planter with flower vines. Stainless-steel cables connect the planter to a second-floor dining patio, creating a vegetated roof for a singular outdoor dining experience. In addition, an elevated patio at the southwest corner serves as a dining patio along the historic façade defining the retail area. Separated from the main walking zone in the streetscape, this elevated patio is bound by a small historic brick wall, limestone stairs and small landscape areas. The main condo doors fronting Second Street are flanked by two large stone-clad planters with specimen agave plants signaling the building’s entrance.



10TH FLOOR TEXAS BACKYARD
For the 10th floor green roof terrace, TBG took a sustainably minded approach that incorporates native plantings and uses air conditioner condensate water for irrigation as part of a uniquely memorable and special space conceived as a “Texas backyard.” Amenities include a 1,200-square-foot lawn, consisting of a 90-foot long saltwater lap pool with wet shelf lounging area, hot tub, reflecting pool with art pieces from local artist Shawn Smith, fountains, herb gardens with native plants and trees, private cabanas, promenade sundeck, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, and a spacious dog park, which is home to the nation’s first self-cleaning dog toilet, an 18-inch stainless-steel plate with an electronic push-button device. The 10th floor also features interior space with a catering kitchen, a theater screening room with seating for 12, an executive meeting room with seating for 12 and conference technology, four guest suites available for overnight visitors, private spa treatment rooms, wine room, billiard and game room, and a pet spa.

ROOFTOP
Atop the iconic tower, the 55th floor Skyview Lounge offers 6,000 square feet of entertaining space, complete with a full catering kitchen, buffet and bar equipment, and rooms for meetings and entertaining, as well as 2,100 square feet of sheltered outdoor terrace space that affords panoramic vistas of Austin and the Hill Country beyond. A 6,000-square-foot fitness center is located on the 56th floor, offering 360-degree views of the city. Both levels allow patrons unparalleled opportunities to enjoy the sweeping views of Austin, Lady Bird Lake and the Texas Hill Country.

EXTERIOR
The building’s sleek exterior, featuring floor-to-ceiling window walls, is literally highlighted with a graceful, illuminated lantern element that crowns the top two floors. The tower’s unique elliptical shape was designed not only to provide residents with spectacular views, but also to protect the beloved corridor view from South Austin down Congress to the Texas State Capitol. In an effort to further integrate The Austonian with the landscape, the project team incorporated limestone and a neutral color palette, both predominant in Austin, into the design.

GREEN AMENITIES
The project is pursuing a four-star rating from the City of Austin Green Building Rating System, which is the equivalent to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Gold rating. Sustainable design features and practices include:

• Density Maximization: The building occupies just one-third of a city block, providing luxury homes for 178 families on less than three-quarters of an acre. In contrast, a suburban residential community housing the same number of families on one-acre lots requires at least 29 acres of asphalt and concrete.
• Water Conservation: Compared to a 178-family Hill Country community, The Austonian will save up to 35.6 million gallons of water each year in landscape watering. This is due to The Austonian’s minimal land use and its unique AC condensate-harvesting irrigation system, which uses condensation from the cooling system to irrigate the 10th floor rooftop urban garden. The building’s landscape architecture also incorporates native plantings and creates a cooling effect at the street level and on the 10th floor lawn. In addition, low-flow lavatories in each home will reduce the use of potable water by at least 30 percent compared to typical fixtures.
• Energy Conservation: The Austonian is also working with local green power provider Austin Energy to ensure that energy use is as efficient as possible. The building's heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which includes climate control in each residence, is connected to the City of Austin chilled water system. Using chilled water for air conditioning in lieu of individual condensation units results in a more efficient production of cool air and a lower overall impact on natural resources. By using Austin’s chilled water system instead of electricity to power more than 175 condensers, heat pumps and separate cooling systems in each unit, less energy is consumed.
• Improved Air Quality: All construction materials used at The Austonian adhere to the strict volatile organic compound (VOC) standards required of the LEED Green Building Rating System. These low-emitting materials achieve energy savings through reduced ventilation requirements and improve indoor air quality.
• Natural Lighting: Each residence was designed to allow for natural lighting in at least 75 percent of the space, minimizing electrical lighting requirements. In common areas, sensors and dimming ballasts will also reduce the amount of lighting used when the areas are unoccupied. Specially coated, insulated glass and a reflective roofing system also provide year-round energy savings.

In addition to Houston-based Ziegler Cooper Architects as the architect and Austin-based TBG Partners as the landscape architect and site planner, other project team members include Austin-based Benchmark Development as the developer; Dallas-based Balfour Beatty Construction as the general contractor; Houston-based CHP & Associates as the M.E.P. engineering consultant; and Houston-based CBM Engineers Inc. as the structural engineering consultant.

ABOUT TBG PARTNERS
As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com