The Frost Bank Tower, completed in 2003, stands as one of Austin, Texas’s most recognizable landmarks. Rising 515 feet with 33 floors, it was the tallest building in the city at the time of its completion. Designed by Duda/Paine Architects and HKS, Inc., the tower’s unique design features a rectangular base that transitions into a segmented pyramidal crown, giving it a distinctive silhouette on the skyline.
What sets Frost Bank Tower apart is its innovative use of glass. The building’s façade incorporates approximately 200,000 square feet of blue low-emissivity (low-e) glass, with an additional 45,000 square feet used in the crown. This thicker-than-standard glass allows abundant natural light to penetrate the interiors while reflecting heat, enhancing energy efficiency and contributing to a comfortable working environment. Its reflective blue hue changes subtly with the quality of daylight, adding a dynamic visual dimension to the tower.
The crown itself, composed of folded glass panels, is illuminated at night, sometimes changing colors for special occasions. This blue low-e glass skin is rare, with only one other building in the world, the Reuters Building in New York City, featuring a similar material.
Through its combination of architectural daring and advanced glass technology, Frost Bank Tower remains a testament to modern, sustainable skyscraper design. 
Source: dudapaine.com with additional information added by Glass Balkan
