TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s no secret there is a lot of construction happening in the Tampa Bay area and one apartment tower is really standing out.

The skyscraper is called “AER” and is located on Tyler Street, across from the Straz Center in downtown Tampa.

Even throughout the pandemic, Tampa has still seen an explosion of growth and officials said this project is a result of all that growth and will also help define the Tampa skyline.

With hardhats and safety vests on, News Channel 8 went on a tour of the new apartment tower that will soon be home to hundreds of people.

The skyscraper is nestled in the Arts and Entertainment District.

“It has a great tie to the Riverwalk, all of us our cultural institutions around it, as we are in the River Arts District for downtown Tampa,” said Shaun Drinkard, Interim President of Tampa Downtown Partnership.

“AER” is being built by Coastal Construction. Property Manager Kelsey Harbin said it’s exciting to see all the growth.

“When you’re driving past on [Interstate] 275 and you’re looking and see our building standing out, it’s really incredible,” she said. “As we’ve seen the skyline change over time, including past the pandemic.”

According to Florida Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research, more than 80,000 people have moved to Hillsborough County from April 2020 through April 2023, which the numbers show is more than any other county in the state.

Drinkard said all those people need somewhere to live.

“There is a tax base here that gives other opportunities for us to look at other areas, other parcels, where we can then have a mix and then have that vibrancy of what a downtown should really be all about,” Drinkard said.

He said projects like these have impacts on affordable housing.

“So, we definitely need all aspects of housing prices for a good, strong neighborhood,” he said. “We definitely need to look at attainable housing and other options to ensure that everyone that lives, works and plays in a neighborhood can actually be a part of that neighborhood.”

Drinkard said this apartment tower will help economic growth, especially with retail on the ground level.

“It means thousands of people coming in and out, additional density means more vibrancy and activity and more economic development for downtown, specifically,” he said.

Construction on “AER” is nearing its final stages, before opening its doors.

“Everybody, so far, has been really excited,” Harbin said. “I think the amenity spaces are what people are most interested in seeing, because they are so unique for the area. There’s not a lot of other communities that offer as many spaces as we do, or as large of spaces.”

The skyscraper is set to be completed by this summer.