Frost Bank Tower

Frost Bank Tower is an office building in downtown Austin with 33 floors and a distinctive pointed crown that rises above the surrounding streetscape. The blue glass façade reflects light throughout the day and creates a recognizable silhouette against the sky.

The tower was completed in 2003 and became the first high-rise construction project in the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks. This milestone reflected a return to confidence in building tall structures in American cities.

Local residents see the pointed crown as resembling an owl's face, sparking conversations about the design's intentional or accidental resemblance to a bird. This interpretation has become part of how people talk about and remember the building in everyday life.

The building houses office space with multiple elevators and a security desk in the lobby area. Getting around the building is straightforward, and its location in the central business district makes arrival by public transportation convenient.

The façade uses a specialized blue glass with low emissivity, a technology found in only one other building worldwide. This material reduces heat absorption and makes the structure a rare example of energy-conscious design from its era.

Location: Austin

Inception: 2003

Architects: HKS, Inc., Duda/Paine Architects

Official opening: January 23, 2004

Architectural style: postmodern architecture

Floors above the ground: 33

Floors below the ground: 1

Elevators: 15

Height: 157.2 m

Address: 401 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Website: https://frostbanktoweraustin.com

GPS coordinates: 30.26650,-97.74270

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:57