The Austonian Blog - Downtown Luxury Condo in Austin, Texas

Green Living at The Austonian: Water Savings

As of August 28^th, Austin has officially set a new record of consecutive days over 100 degrees in one year. With the temperatures continuing to rise, and water in short supply, the City of Austin will implement additional water usage restrictions on September 6^th. This second phase of water restrictions will further limit the use of water for landscape. The restrictions will also extend to restaurants, who will not serve water unless requested, and the washing of sidewalks and other paved areas.

Water conservation can be achieved by a variety of means ranging from consumption reduction to recycling water for reuse. The developers of The Austonian incorporated water conservation plans into the design of the 56-story building, which occupies just one-third of a city block and provides 166 residences on less than three-quarters of an acre.

The Austonian incorporates low-water plants in its 10^th-floor green roof terrace and irrigates the plans with reclaimed water from the building’s cooling system. As a result, The Austonian uses a very limited amount of public water for street-level irrigation and no water for irrigation of the 10^th-floor green roof terrace. By comparison, a suburban community with 166 homes uses an estimated 33.2 million gallons of water per year for landscape watering. Additionally, The Austonian has incorporated low-flow toilets, lavatories and showerheads which reduce the use of potable water by at least 30 percent over typical fixtures. 

For more information about The Austonian and the sustainability of the building, visit www.theaustonian.com. 

(Photo credit Thomas McConnell)

Event Recap: House of Spain Davis Cup Event at The Austonian

Last week, Dr. Byron and Carla Wilkenfeld, residents of The Austonian, hosted a Davis Cup event for the House of Spain, the Austin-based Spanish consulate, on the 10^th floor Lawn at The Austonian. Guests from Austin, including over 30 of The Austonian’s residents, and prominent figures of Spain with the Davis Cup gathered together to kick off the Davis Cup tennis series that was hosted in Austin the weekend of July 7-10. Party guests enjoyed food and beverages on The Lawn, The Austonian’s 10^th-floor rooftop terrace overlooking Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.

The Lawn of The Austonian is suited well for parties and special events, with two outdoor grills, eight cabanas, a 75-foot saltwater lap pool and access to the catering kitchen right inside the building.

Austin was selected as the site for the 2011 Davis Cup by the BNP Paribas tournament quarterfinal tie between the U.S. and Spain. The tournament was held at the Frank Erwin Center at The University of Texas at Austin. After several days of matches, the U.S. was defeated by Spain.

Austin is home to Andy Roddick, the 10th-ranked tennis player who has won 33 U.S. Davis Cup victories in singles tennis. 

 

Summer Fitness at The Austonian: Getting in Shape with Tim Meyers

Fitness is a lifetime habit for many homeowners at The Austonian luxury condos in downtown Austin.

The 56^th-floor Fitness Center at The Austonian is outfitted with state-of-the-art gym equipment, as well as a yoga and Pilates studio. The gym is at the top of The Austonian – the tallest building in Austin – and has 360-degree views of the city and the surrounding hill country.

While residents are welcome to bring their own personal trainers into the building’s facilities, Tim Meyer of Tim Meyer Athletic Development is the preferred provider of fitness programming for The Austonian. Meyer, who has been working in the strength and conditioning/fitness industry for over ten years, helps residents of The Austonian stay fit with group and personal training sessions.

Tim began his career while studying at The University of North Texas, where he instructed weight-training courses while completing his Masters Degree . While serving as a strength and conditioning coaching intern at Southern Methodist University, he worked with the men’s soccer team, the women’s volleyball team, the women’s basketball team, and the entire swim program. In 2006, Tim moved to Austin and began working for CATZ Sports, an elite training facility for student athletes, professionals and sports enthusiasts. In the spring of 2011, Tim launched his own training business: Meyer Athletic Development.

Tim’s wide range of training expertise includes activities that develop balance, core strength and overall cardiovascular fitness. An Austonian homeowner favorite is Tim’s Saturday morning strength and conditioning class, which ranges from three to ten people in size.

For more info about Austin fitness expert Tim Meyer and Meyer Athletic Development, visit: http://www.madtraining.net/.

The Austonian Club: Entertaining Above Downtown Austin

The Austonian Club is a private club where homeowners can host meetings, parties and events.

Located on the 55^th floor of The Austonian luxury high-rise building in downtown Austin, the 6,000-square-foot club has 360-degree views of downtown Austin and the surrounding Texas Hill Country. Two observation decks are located on the north and south ends of the facility. The private club is one of a kind, as it is located in the crown of The Austonian, which is the tallest building in Austin and the tallest residential building West of the Mississippi.

With a configuration that supports everything from intimate dinners for 16 to large events for 250, the club has a lounge, dining area and large event room. All of the aforementioned spaces may be configured to support a large event.

An on-staff event planner that is a member of The Austonian concierge team is available to plan events at the club.

To date, the club has been used for events including fundraisers for nonprofit organizations, a sleepover for a young homeowner and friends, a wedding and a high school prom.

For more information about The Austonian’s amenities, visit The Austonian website.

(Photo credit Thomas McConnell)

Memorial Day: The Capital of Texas Triathlon in Downtown Austin

 
Photo: Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman

On Monday, May 30^th, thousands of athletes from all over the world will come to Austin to participate in The Capital of Texas Triathlon. The triathlon is one of the premier fitness events in the United States. Specific races at the event suit a range of fitness levels, accommodating everyone from beginners to pro triathletes.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.captextri.com/.

Health and fitness is a top priority for many Austin residents. The Austonian, recognized by Austin Fit Magazine as one of the fittest residences in Austin, is home to amenities and services designed for fitness enthusiasts and serious athletes. Workout facilities at The Austonian include a 75-foot saltwater pool that is open year-round; a 6,000-square-foot 56^th-floor Fitness Center with strength training, cardio equipment, Pilates and yoga; and bike valet service and onsite bike storage.

 

May is National Bike Month

The month of May is celebrated by cities across the U.S. as National Bike Month, including Bike to Work Week (May 16-20), Bike to Work Day (May 20), and many other events, rides and celebrations. The goal of this movement is to get more people on their bikes for travel, work, school and play.

The Austonian residences in downtown Austin support multi-modal transportation and have a bike and Segway storage room on site for residents. The concierge has a bike valet available to residents and their guests 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For a full list of Bike Month events, view the article in The Austin Chronicle.  

(Image via valdodge.com) 

The Austin Chronicle: Restaurants at The Austonian are on the Cutting Edge of Downtown Austin’s Future

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Photos by Casey Dunn

The Austonian is featured in The Austin Chronicle for its three dining destinations that showcase downtown Austin’s finest. Executive Chef David Bull and his partners in the La Corsha Restaurant Group hired the best of the best of Austin’s cooks, mixologists, sommeliers and servers to create a team that would run Congress, Bar Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen. Read the full article here.

Congress recently received a five-star review from Austin American-Statesman restaurant critic Mike Sutter, making the restaurant the highest-rated dining spot in the city.

For Earth Day the three establishments have joined Austin Give 5. Five percent of today’s purchases will benefit five Austin nonprofit organizations. More information is available at the Austin Give 5 website.

Yoga in April in Downtown Austin's Republic Square Park

Photo by Daniel Woodroffe

Throughout the month of April, Yoga Yoga is offering free, outdoor yoga classes at Republic Square Park in downtown Austin every Wednesday at noon. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Participants are asked to bring water and a yoga mat if they have one; a few mats will be available.

Republic Square Park is a historic square in downtown Austin. Daniel Woodroffe, the chief landscape architect for The Austonian, designed the recent renovation of Republic Square Park. The renovation included creating a raised seating area for the public that protects the park’s historic Auction Oaks.

Visit http://www.yogayoga.com/yogainthepark for more information about Yoga in the Park.

Statesman: Austin Restaurant Congress “Shatters the Five-Star Ceiling”

 Photo by Ralph Barrera, Austin American-Statesman

Congress, the new fine dining restaurant located in the base of The Austonian, is the highest-rated restaurant in the city, according to a recent review by Austin American-Statesman restaurant critic Mike Sutter.

According to Sutter, Congress presented “an extraordinary restaurant experience from start to finish” including the food, wine, service and value.

In a city known for food, a five-star rating places Congress at the top of a list of restaurants with national and international reputations.

Congress, Bar Congress and Second Bar + Kitchen opened in the base of The Austonian luxury condos in downtown Austin in early 2011. All three concepts are managed by La Corsha Hospitality Group.

Read the review and other articles about Bar Congress and neighboring restaurant Second Bar + Kitchen here.

The Austonian Wins Green Building Award from Austin Business Journal

The Austonian has received a “Going Green Award” green building award from the Austin Business Journal for its commitment to green living. The Going Green awards, announced on January 26, honor those in Central Texas who make efforts to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices.

The building is going green to celebrate – see our “smile” tonight after dusk.

Read more about it in today’s Austin Business Journal.