The Inspiration Behind Frost Bank Tower and Austin’s Rising Skyline

Many people have wondered for years what inspired the architecture of the Frost Bank Tower, which was the tallest building in the Austin skyline for quite some time. While the Austin skyline would not be the same without it, the design of the building has jokingly been said to resemble anything from a giant owl to a nose hair clipper. KVUE News decided to lay the rumors to rest, and went straight to the source of the design by contacting the office of Turan Duda, AIA — the man who is credited with designing the unique building.

According to Duda, the 515-foot building peaks with a “pyramidal translucent crown,” an answer that still leaves much to the viewer’s imagination. Duda explained that the inspiration behind the building was to create a tower with a focal point similar to New York’s Chrysler and Empire State buildings. He told the Austin American-Statesman that he wanted to “create a building that comes to a singular statement at the top, a clear, memorable symbol.” It’s a building that he claimed to be “the missing piece in the Austin skyline.”

While Frost Bank Tower certainly filled that missing piece in 2004, The Austonian and 360 Condominiums stand tall, towering over Frost’s 33 floors, adding even more perspective to Austin’s rising skyline.

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(Image via http://www.flickr.com/photos/milbot79/5222088196/)