High Rise Design

Austin, Texas
John Acabado
ARE 320K
High Rise Ideas

A commonly ignored concept in apartment

buildings is a sense of community. The idea of
this project was to design a high rise that
incorporates the idea of a “neighborhood-in-
the-sky”. This high rise strategically utilizes its
spaces to give its occupants a sense of
community. Amenities include:

• Rooftop basketball court

• Playground
• Dog Park
• Outdoor terrace
• Garden
• Fitness centers
• Spa/Sauna
• Indoor Pool
• Restaurant/Bar
• Media lounge
• Theater
• Conference rooms
• Quiet lounges
• Ballroom/Multi-purpose Room
• Grocery store
• Daycare
 Climate Analysis
Austin, Texas

Average Rainfall and Temperature Highs/Lows

Courtesy of U.S. Climate Data

Average Daily Sunshine

Courtesy of Weather Atlas

Average Humidity

Courtesy of Weather Atlas

Average Wind Direction Average Wind Speed

Courtesy of windfinder.com

Courtesy of Weather Spark

Courtesy of Weather Spark

Site Plan
Austin, Texas

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Floor Plans

Residential Floor
Plan A
(Floors 4-6, 10-13, 15-18,
22-27, 32 & 33)

Residential Floor
Plan B
(Floors 9, 20, & 30)
Floor Plans

Ground Floor

Grocery
(2nd Floor)
Floor Plans

Ballroom/ Multi-
purpose Room

(3rd Floor)

Conference/
Entertainment
(8th Floor)
Floor Plans

Restaurant/Bar
(19th Floor)

Recreation
(29th Floor)
Floor Plans

Outdoor Leisure
(33th Floor)

Mechanical Room
(Floors 7, 14, 21, & 28))
Architectural, Structural,
Mechanical
View A

Adjustable horizontal louvers over curtain

windows

Curtain windows for likely residential

living room spaces that lead to balconies

View B

Glass public elevator

Curtain windows for both ends of the

hallways beside the fire stairs to allow
natural light into the corridors

Punched windows for residential floors in

likely bedroom walls
Structural: Gravity Design
View A View B

All of the
gravitational
systems are
concrete two-
way slab and
beam systems.
Columns are
sized according
to the tributary
loads, spaced
according to
BCI’s
recommended
spacing, and
positioned to
allow more
freedom
architecturally.

Gravity
Design
Floor Plan
Structural: Lateral Design
View A View B

The lateral
stability of the
building relies
on cores that
surround the
middle group of
elevators and
the fire stairs at
the northwest
and southeast
corners of the
building.

Underbelly View
Piers are spaced
between 10’
and 15’ feet
along the outer
walls, as well as
below each
interior column.
Mechanical Systems – Floor Plans

1st-3rd Floors Residential Floors

Supply Diffuser Return Diffuser

Mechanical Rooms Amenity Floors (8th, 19th, 29th)

Chiller Water tube

Boiler

Air Handling Units

Note: Mechanical system designs only illustrate public spaces and
does not include mechanical designs for residential areas.
Mechanical Systems
View A View B

Note: Mechanical system designs only illustrate public spaces and

does not include mechanical designs for residential areas.
Sketch – Section View (East)