A bright new shape is setting “sail” to the Austin skyline, making waves and taking names across the state. Block 185, Google’s newest Austin tower, is aptly nicknamed the “sail tower” for its unique design.

Influenced by worker wellness and unusual zoning requirements, the structure has taken shape in an outstanding way. Rising 35 stories, the sweeping tower tapers in a manner much like a sail in response to neighboring waters – Shoal Creek on the west and Lady Bird Lake on its south side. The project, a redevelopment of the previous Green Water Treatment Plant, now includes several outdoor terraces, retail space alongside the creek, and a 1,411-car parking garage. 

With a prime location in the heart of Austin, Block 185 features some of the city’s best and brightest views. Luckily, the designers of this immaculate structure took notice, placing each floor with 180-degree views, abundant natural lighting, and solar-shaded glass. Experience and functionality were clearly at the forefront of the mind when developing this tower, with over 20% of the space devoted to its luxurious amenities.

Google has been the prime tenant for this structure for the majority of its lifetime in design and development. Prior to the pandemic, Google announced its preparation to relocate sometime in 2023. However, recent downsizing at some of the largest tech giants in the nation, including Google, could have an impact on this decision. 

With the internet company’s incredible presence already in downtown Austin at 500 West Second Street, only one block away from this new tower, questions are being raised about the continued development of this project.

As always, stay tuned by following my blog for more information on the latest Austin developments, commercial projects, and local real estate. Feel free to email me at  tmcneil@kw.com to chat more about this unique development and if you’re curious why Austin is my favorite place in the world!

A project featuring millions of square feet of data center space is on the brink of development for Williamson County! The project, affectionately known as PowerCampus Austin, ranges 150 acres and is a joint venture between Dallas-based Skybox Datacenters LLC and San Francisco-based Prologis Inc. In early May, the developers received unanimous approval from the Hutto City Council to construct a massive portion of Hutto land along U.S. Route 79. This land is known as a “megasite” due to its considerable interest from big businesses and undeveloped property.

PowerCampus Austin Development

The first phase of this incredible 150-acre development is expected to be completed in late 2024. Located at the southeast corner of U.S. 79 and County Road 132, PowerCampus Austin is expected to span a total of 159 acres. The concepts for PowerCampus Austin showcase six buildings totaling 3.9 million square feet, with four reaching 750,000 square feet and two estimated at 467,000 square feet. The project has yet to sign any tenants at this point in the timeline, despite the many potential companies already eyeing the campus. 

While the campus is expected to overtake a massive portion of land in North Austin, the estimated workforce needed for operating PowerCampus Austin remains small, focusing only on a few dozen high-wage engineering, technical, and construction positions. 

Despite this development’s lower job demand, PowerCampus Austin is still poised to bring the county billions of dollars in capital investment. Data centers like this one are often used as physical locations to store information with a vast market in infrastructure, which can add a lot of value to a city’s tax rolls.

JC Witt, the vice president of investments at Prologis Inc., commented, “This 150-acre campus will contribute to the local economy and build upon North Austin’s growing reputation as a world-class location for digital infrastructure. The project will offer 600 megawatts through two private substations — making it one of the most scalable data center campuses in the United States.”

Follow along with the development of PowerCampus Austin and discover more commercial projects heading our way by following my blog or contacting me at tmcneil@kw.com with any questions!