AUSTIN – (Realty News Report) – Hines is developing a mass-timber office building on Austin’s east side—its first project in the Texas capital in more than 40 years.
Houston-based Hines has been a leader in timber-built office projects, promoting a sustainable concept it calls T3 (timber, transit and technology).
Named T3 Eastside, the Austin development will include 92,000 square feet of office space and 9,200 square feet of residential space, with 15 loft-style residential units.
“The entire project structure will be built using sustainably sourced wood—our first mass-timber residential application,” Hines said. “This is the first of several projects Hines is bringing to Austin, with active prospects across office, multifamily, senior living, life sciences and student housing sectors.”
Mass timber construction can significantly reduce emissions compared with concrete and steel: timber produces roughly 50 percent lower CO2 emissions during construction than concrete and also offers better insulation properties.
T3 is a proprietary Hines mass-timber product developed to meet evolving tenant needs. Timber is renewable, recyclable and non-toxic, and Hines notes it can deliver productivity and wellness benefits for building occupants.
As timber grows, trees capture and store carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen—a natural process known as carbon sequestration.
The Austin project is located at 1200 East 4th Street in a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood designed for dining, shopping, living and working around the clock.
“Hines believes strongly in Austin’s economy, skilled workforce, cost competitiveness and quality of life. Innovative companies recognize these strengths and will seek office environments that reflect their culture and standards,” said John Mooz, senior managing director and head of Hines’ Austin office.
“Hines has more than 64 years of experience in Texas, and we look forward to expanding our presence in Austin with multiple projects to be announced in the coming months across various property types,” Mooz added.
Hines says T3 Eastside’s design will help tenants attract and retain high-quality talent. JLL has been retained to handle leasing for the Austin project.
Hines recently announced another mass-timber project in Florida in partnership with Fort Lauderdale-based Urban Street Development. That Fort Lauderdale building will be part of FAT (Food Art Technology) Village, a 5.6-acre mixed-use urban village in the city’s Flagler Village neighborhood. The larger FAT Village master plan includes office, retail and residential uses across 835,000 square feet. The 180,000-square-foot T3 FAT Village office building is expected to be completed in 2024.
For readers interested in Texas real estate: consider Ralph Bivins’ book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town — An Extreme Close Up.
File: John Mooz. T3 Eastside. Hines constructing timber building in Austin at 1200 East 4th Street. Fort Lauderdale-based Urban Street Development.