Drone: New Google tower begins to take shape downtown

Almost two years after it was announced Google would lease the entirety of Block 185 in Downtown Austin, construction on the new building has made significant headway. In drone video taken by Austonia, the 589-foot, sail-shaped structure is starting to take shape.

The new 35-story tower across Shoal Creek will be able to hold about 5,000 people with 793,000 square feet of office space and 1,327 parking spaces on the lower floors with some underground.

In its final form, the building will feature all the standard tech company perks employees have come to not only enjoy but expect. There will be fitness and recreation areas, lounges, kitchen and dining areas, conference centers and a bar.

The upper floors of the new building will be occupied entirely by Google offices, however, the structure will also feature retail businesses on its ground floor, and the lobby will be accessible to the 2nd Street retail and entertainment district.

Outside, the new Google building will have a plaza along Shoal Creek featuring bicycle and pedestrian access connecting to West Cesar Chavez and West 2nd Street.

Rendering of the completed Google tower downtown. (Trammell Crow Company)

Opening its first Austin office in 2007, Google is currently located in a 29-story tower at 500 W. 2nd St., where the tech company leases at least 10 floors.

In January 2019, developer Trammell Crow purchased Block 185 for about $10.27 million after landing on that amount in a 2012 master development agreement. One month later ground broke on the newest addition to Austin's skyline that was leased by Google.

While the company has remained rather silent since the initial announcement two years ago, initial plans for Google to move into the building in 2023 seem to remain on track.

More developments in progress:

Austin FC stadium, Giga Texas, Waterloo Park and 5 Austin towers slated for delivery in 2021