Austin Tower The Independent To Be Featured On Cable Show

AUSTIN, TX — You've no doubt seen The Independent condo tower building while in downtown Austin, and invariably marvel at its architecture. The twisted, shiny skyscraper — dubbed the "Jenga tower" for its unique design — yields the question: How was it built?

Next week, your questions will be answered via the Science Channel hit series "Impossible Engineering" airing on Wednesday, July 29, at 8 p.m., which will feature the landmark during the upcoming episode. Nicknamed The Jenga Tower for its distinctive, cantilever design, the building is being teased ahead of the airing for its "...one of a kind gravity defying projections," according to the network.

The Impossible Engineering swebsite notes: "Behind every seemingly impossible marvel of modern engineering is a cast of historic trailblazers who designed new building techniques, took risks on untested materials and revolutionized their field," adding the show "is a tribute to their achievements."

At 685 feet tall, The Independent is Austin's tallest tower as well as the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River. The project was co-developed by Austin-based Aspen Heights and Los Angeles-based CIM Group.

"It was an incredible honor to be called to participate in a show that does such an amazing job of showcasing some of the most iconic structures in the world," Greg Henry, CEO of Aspen Heights, said in a prepared statement. "This is a true testament to our entire team and the phenomenal talent that was assembled to bring this bold vision to reality."

Rhode Partners was The Independent’s architect; Balfour Beatty Construction served as the project’s general contractor; while engineering firms included Urban Design Group (civil), Garza Bury (MEP), DCI & Lam Consulting Engineers (structural).

The tower’s sleek and modern residences feature a diverse mix of floor plans from one to four-bedroom units and penthouses, ranging in size from 675 to 3,485-square-feet, with a limited number of residences available.

Additional information can be found at www.independentaustin.com.

About Aspen Heights Partners

Founded in 2006, Austin-based Aspen Heights has developed 45 conventional multifamily, student housing and assisted living properties, totaling more than $2.8 billion in value. The company builds, leases and manages its own projects and also provides third-party leasing and management services. It is a mainstay in the top 10 lists of student housing development companies. The firm’s best-known project is arguably The Independent, a 685-foot-tall, 363-unit condo tower that’s both the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi River as well as the tallest structure in Austin. It has an additional $1.9 billion in projects in its pipeline.

For more information, visit: www.ahpliving.com.