The 56-storey Austonian that stands tall at 680ft is designed as a high-rise residential and retail project. It towers above neighbouring structures and is the defining element of the Austin skyline.

A design competition for the ambitious mixed-use project concluded with the selection of Ziegler Cooper Architects’ elliptical-shaped tower. Set on a 29,000 square feet site at the corner of Congress Avenue and Second Street, Ziegler Cooper was tasked with housing 178 luxury condominiums, parking, retail and luxury amenities on one-third of a city block while adhering to Capitol View Corridor restrictions that protect views from all vantages to the Texas State Capitol.

The building features a lively retail scene on the first two floors, which are set under six floors devoted to parking. The tower´s tenth floor is an amenity level offering attractions such as a wine room, lounge and a small cinema area. An exquisitely landscaped outdoor urban garden with a green roof, 75-foot pool, herb gardens, sundeck, barbecue grill, dog park are also featured no the tenth floor. Another green roof is located on the 55th floor sky lounge and outdoor terrace. Sustainability was an integral component of the design, which is part of the Austin Green Building Program. The 56th level is a fitness centre with 360-degree views of the Hill Country. The entire building is adorned with high-performance, low-E glass and utilizes MechoShades, Energy Star-rated appliances and a rainwater capture system, among many green elements.

This luxury residential high-rise has recently received a Four Star rating, which is equivalent to LEED-Gold, thanks to the sustainable features incorporated into it. Two important ‘green’ features integrated into the structure are: an energy-saving chilled water cooling system; and an envelope made with one inch of insulated glass with low heat gain, low reflectance, and high light transmittance.

Each unit in the residential complex has been designed to feature at least 75% or more day-lighting. About 87% of all waste was recycled during construction.

Developed by Benchmark Development, The Austonian’s construction manager was Robert Albanese and general contractor was Balfour Beatty Construction.

With the recent ‘green’ recognition, The Austonian has become one of the most sustainable addresses in Austin, Texas.