Texas' Tallest Supertall Is Completed -- And It's Not in Houston - MegaBuilds [View all]

Austin's Waterline Tower, completed in 2025, became the tallest building in the South at 1,025 feet, surpassing Atlanta’s Bank of America Plaza. Built in just over three years on fractured limestone bedrock—despite zero prior super-tall experience—the project defied expectations by leveraging three key strategies: rezoning to allow height, strong luxury market demand, and importing experienced construction teams from New York, Chicago, and Miami. The project used extensive prefabrication, extended work hours, and innovative engineering, including sculptural columns and a tuned mass damper. While Austin now holds the title, Miami is expected to surpass it in 2026 with a 1,049-foot tower. The story highlights that speed and execution—rather than experience—can enable rapid development of super-tall buildings.