Austinites are no strangers to construction cranes. Over the past few years, increasingly more buildings have been erected in the heart of downtown Austin, transforming both the shape of the skyline and the culture of living in downtown Austin. The Austonian was one of the first projects to open during this period of growth, and it maintains its status as the tallest building in Austin, with unimpeded views of the rest of the city, Lady Bird Lake and the Central Texas Hill Country. As such, residents of The Austonian luxury condominiums have a front row seat to watch the city as it grows, and will be in a prime location to enjoy all the new life these changes bring.

The Fairmont convention hotel planned for the intersection of East Cesar Chavez and Red River will break ground next month. Once completed, this 37-story luxury hotel will be the biggest hotel in Austin, with 1,066 rooms. Questions of whether or not Austin’s hotel market could sustain another large convention hotel on top of the JW Marriot currently under construction on Congress Ave have arisen and caused delays on the project in the past, but because the downtown area is so undersupplied with rooms during large events like South by Southwest or Formula 1, the developers foresee no issue filling rooms.

In addition, Austin Bergstrom International Airport is set to undergo expansion, adding eight new gates by 2017. This increase in capacity is sorely needed, as Austin continues to grow in its desirability for travelers from around the country and around the world. The expansion will allow for 4 million additional passengers per year to travel to and from the city.

New apartments are also sprouting up in the heart of Austin as demand for living space in the downtown area continues to grow. But even with all the new construction, The Austonian continues to be a beacon of the finest residential space in the whole city. And there’s no fear of new buildings blocking the coveted views from The Austonian—the building will remain the tallest in Austin for the foreseeable future.

Rendering of Fairmont Hotel courtesy Austin-American Statesman, Gensler