70 Rainey tower tops out, fills out as next phase kicks in

With its highest floor now poured and its topping out celebrated, the 34-story luxury condominium tower at 70 Rainey level poured, the developer and designers have moved quickly on to its next phase: realizing the look and feel of the place, indoors and out.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the project’s developer, Sackman Enterprises, exterior glass is largely in place, and planter boxes in the parking garage have been installed. The 8-story garage will eventually be draped with 10,000 square feet of trailing plants, which is probably the a first such installation for Austin, at least on that scale.

Designed by the locally based Page architecture firm, the building will also feature abundant greenery on its ultra-swanky, 10th-floor amenity deck, which measures 20,000 square feet. The landscape design is meant to resemble that of a park—another feature not commonly found in local high-rises. It will feature garden planted with flowers and native trees around the perimeter, with paths leading to private nooks, garden alcoves, an outdoor kitchen, two pools, a dog park, and secluded seating areas.

It will also feature unobstructed city views (it’s 100 feet or more taller than its Rainey neighbors) and a twisting tower rising 36 feet above the deck; the Brazilian wood soffit under the tower is being installed, and construction of the pools and planters is underway.

The interiors, by Mark Zeff Design (which also created nearby Hotel Van Zandt’s interiors) vision of Mark Zeff is taking shape, with installation of Spanish bathroom tile, custom cabinetry, and oak flooring in individual units. The 164 condos in the building range units in price from the $400,000 area to $5 million. The average price per square foot is more than $800.