8 replies to this topic

[John T Roberts]

This last weekend, I met a few people from the Skyscraperpage.com Forum in Austin. I had a great time because it had been several years since I walked around downtown. We met in front of the new Austin City Hall and these are the photos that I took in order except for one.

AMLI Downtown


Front of City Hall


East side of City Hall


North side of City Hall


Abandoned Railroad Bridge over Shoal Creek


Trail Bridge beside old railroad bridge


Old Iron Works next to Amtrak Station


Another shot beside the tracks


Frost Bank Tower:




Ruins of a burned out block of buildings on 5th Street:


We next went to the Hilton Hotel and went out on a balcony where I took a panorama. That will be the last photograph in the collection.

Exterior fire stairs on the back side of the Austin Convention Center:


Waller Creek:


Congress Avenue Bridge:




















The Littlefield Building:


Stephen F. Austin Hotel:


A little Art Deco on the Scarbrough Building:


Smaller buildings along Congress Avenue:




Probably the most famous Austin building:


Frost Bank making a brief appearance from an alley:


The Driskill Hotel:


Sixth Street:










Finally the panorama from the Hilton Hotel:

[John T Roberts]

We covered all of downtown and some of the trails on the south side of Town Lake. So, our path took us from the boundaries of downtown in the east/west direction and we went outside of the CBD in the north/south direction. Our forum meet was at noon, and I arrived about one hour and 15 minutes early, so I walked around a little at the University of Texas campus. I took pictures there, but I haven't posted them. We also went to Whole Foods Market, but I didn't post any photos. That is some store, and I must say that I really wish that they would be interested in putting a store in Fort Worth.

[mosteijn]

Austin, amazing as usual...can't wait to spend June there at UT architecture camp! (PS: thanks for the letter!)

Excellent, excellent photos, John. That pano is impressively stitched, virtually seamless. Looks like you had fun!

[tamtagon]

Austin is so nice. Does that old bell tower still chime "What the world needs now is love sweet love?"

[Fort Worthology]

Great photos, John! The Frost tower is cool. Those older buildings are gorgeous.

Only one of them I don't like (buildings, not photos - all your photos are great) is the City Hall - man, what a heap of ugly that thing is, IMHO. Not as ugly as the FW and Dallas City Halls, though.

(yes, I think the Dallas City Hall is ugly. So sue me.)

[vjackson]

I've got to get back to to Austin soon. Those picuture's are amazing. I'm not sure if I like the city hall or not. I'll have to see it in person. I do give Austin credit for trying something different. And AG you're right, I don't care who designed it, Dallas' city hall is horrible.

[John T Roberts]

I took the pictures, but I'm sorry they inspired a rant. I actually enjoyed getting out of town for a little bit and really had a ball meeting some of the Austin forumers from the Skyscraperpage. You are right, Austin really doesn't have that interesting of a skyline, but there are many historic buildings in downtown that do have a lot of character. One thing that I noticed in downtown Austin that is absent in downtown Fort Worth is that nearly every old building is landmarked and protected!

[KevinFromTexas]

Austin is so nice. Does that old bell tower still chime "What the world needs now is love sweet love?"

Well, I guess I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I'm back. After a lot of computer troubles.

Anyway, yes that bell tower is still functioning. It was originally built as Austin's fireman's practice tower. It was built in 1931.

Great pictures again John. You did a great job of capturing the city.