New Beachfront Tower Near Houston Tops Out, Signaling Momentum for Galveston Waterfront

This week, the concrete framework of the 10-story beachfront apartment Tiara on the Beach hit a crucial construction milestone. This brings the first large-scale condo project on the island in almost 20 years one step closer to completion.

On March 12, developers will hold a topping-out ceremony to mark the completion of a 15-month phased concrete building plan that began in December 2024. The tower is 320,000 square feet and is located at 10525 San Luis Pass Road, along the Galveston Seawall, close to Diamond Beach.

For many people in the Houston area, the project is a unique opportunity to buy modern beachfront property less than an hour's drive from the city.

Satya Development is in charge of building the development, Ludlow Construction is in charge of building it, and PLACE Designers is in charge of designing it. The building's frame is made of poured-in-place, post-tensioned concrete, designed to last on the coast. This stage marks the end of the project's structural phase.

Architect Steven Biegel and developer Sunny Bathija came up with the idea for the construction in 2020. They wanted to build a modern residential tower that would help bring new life to Galveston's oceanfront.

Biegel added that lenders, engineers, and city officials had to work together for years to design and coordinate the project. "This building is the result of a huge team effort that included Satya, IBC Bank, the City of Galveston, and numerous engineering professionals. There were many problems at this site, which made it one of the hardest on the island. We were able to finish it!” he continued. 

The architect noted that the design is based on the widespread coastal developments in Miami. It brings a more modern look to the Texas waterfront and fits in well with the Seawall neighborhood.

Biegel, who has worked on projects including Diamond Beach, Ocean Club Resort, and the redevelopment of Emerald by the Sea, called the new development a distinguishing addition to the area's coastline. He shared, "Tiara is the most beautiful place along the Texas coast. "We built Diamond Beach, Ocean Club, and the Sapphire on South Padre Island; Whitecap NPI and Lighthouse Point in Corpus; and fixed up the Emerald. "Tiara" was the best name for our project.”

Now that the building's concrete frame is finished, the construction crews will move on to the next step: installing the windows, façade, and outer envelope that will surround the tower and give it its final look.

The Tiara sales center is at 4918 Seawall Blvd., Suite C, Galveston, TX.