Today, The Frost Bank Tower looms across the Austin skyline with a singular presence. While it may look like the world's largest nose hair trimmer, it stands 120 feet taller than any other building in the city of Austin. Of the top ten tallest buildings in Austin, only three -- Frost, 300 W 6th, and the Hilton -- were built in the last decade. One of today's ten tallest buildings – the Texas State Capital — was completed nearly 120 years ago in 1888. Speaking of the Capital, Austin must be one of the largest cities in the U.S. to have a four-story building in it's top ten!

Between the Capital (#10), the Dobie (#5), and the UT Tower (#12), many of the tallest buildings have been around for a long-time:

Ten Tallest Buildings in Austin - 2007
1. 515 Feet - Frost Bank Tower
2. 395 Feet - One American Center
3. 391 Feet - One Congress Plaza
4. 377 Feet - Austin Hilton Convention Center Hotel
5. 367 Feet - Dobie Center
6. 329 Feet - Bank of America Center
7. 325 Feet - 300 West Sixth Street
8. 325 Feet - Chase Bank Tower
9. 320 Feet - 100 Congress
10. 311 Feet - Texas State Capitol

Over the next three years, the Austin skyline will change dramatically. If all proposed buildings are built, only one current building - the Frost Tower - will be in the top ten. In fact, 5 new buildings will be taller than any building currently occupied in the city. Of the future top-ten, four are already under construction and five are still in the planning stage.

Here is the full list:

Ten Tallest Buildings in Austin - 2010*
*(If all proposed buildings are completed)
1. 705 Feet - 501 Congress
2. 683 Feet - The Austonian
3. 580 Feet - 21C Austin
4. 563 Feet - 360 Condominiums
5. 550 Feet - 401-499 West 6th Street
6. 515 Feet - Frost Bank Tower
7. 450 Feet - 501-599 West 6th Street
8. 433 Feet - W Hotel & Residences
9. 432 Feet - Spring
10. 416 Feet - Altavida

Tags: market analysis