The KPF-designed mixed-use supertall in Austin is included in the publication’s recent roundup highlighting the most exciting towers set to complete in 2026.
The tallest building in Texas and Austin’s first official supertall, Waterline rises along the edge of Lady Bird Lake and draws inspiration from its namesake through a stacked form that responds directly to the site’s natural and urban context. Accommodating office, hotel, and residential space, the tower’s vertically stacked programs are bifurcated with indoor/outdoor amenities that are playful and porous in form and bring elements of the creek up into the tower. Connected to the Rainey Street District and located at the starting point of Austin’s first light rail line, Waterline serves as both a civic connector and a new gateway to the city.
The Dezeen feature also notes that Waterline is “one of several landmark buildings KPF is completing this year,” including 520 Fifth Avenue, a mixed-use supertall in New York City, underscoring a significant year for the firm’s high-rise portfolio.
