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Austin skyline evolution from ACL Fest 2005 to present
Austin's highest skyscraper will soon be eclipsed by a new state record-holder. Witness the city's skyline evolution yearly since 2005.
Published October 5, 2024 at 7:02am by Mars Salazar
Austin's Skyline Transformation: A Photojournalist's 20-Year Perspective
Austin American-Statesman photojournalist Jay Janner has documented Central Texas for nearly two decades. Since 2005, he has captured Austin's evolving skyline each fall from Zilker Park.
In 2005, Janner photographed the Austin City Limits Music Festival, framing the stage with downtown buildings in the background. The Frost Bank Tower, completed in 2004 and standing at 516 feet, was the city's tallest structure. Today, it is the fifth tallest and no longer visible from the park.
Before and after: 50 photos show how much Austin has changed in the last 20 years
2005 was also the notorious "Dust Bowl" year, with dust kicked up by festival-goers causing breathing difficulties. The following year, sprinklers were installed to address this issue. Weekend passes then cost $105.
Last year, the Independent, a 685-foot residential building dubbed the "Jenga tower," was Austin's tallest. Currently, a 66-story skyscraper at Sixth and Guadalupe, standing at 865 feet, holds the title. The Waterline, a 1,022-foot mixed-use building set for completion in 2026, is expected to become Texas' tallest structure.
ACL Fest 2024: See Changes to Austin's Skyline Over the Years
Read more: See how Austin skyline has evolved from every ACL Fest since 2005