Reflecting on Austin’s New Icon

— I have been living in Austin since the mid-1980s. I recall back then that the northernmost point before leaving city limits was around IH-35 and E Highway 290. Not much else was north of there. There were even empty lots before you would get to Pflugerville and then Round Rock. According to city population statistics, Austin had around 392,971 inhabitants in 1984, the year I moved here. There is a very interesting article in the USA Today Network comparing the Austin skyline in various years. It’s worth taking a look at it. The main photo in that article shows the skyline in 2001 versus 2019. More comparisons appear down in the article.

Fast forward to 2022. The U.S. Census Bureau now lists the city of Austin‘s population as 961,855 people. Needless to say, the Austin skyline has changed — and continues changing — dramatically.

Since I have been spending a little more time around the Lady Bird Lake biking trail, I have been enjoying the various views I can manage to photograph. One particular building has caught my eye. I am calling it a new downtown Austin icon. I am referring to the new thirty-five-story Google building. People in Austin have been referring to it as the “sail building.” It is obvious when you see the building why that name applies to it so well.

Located right on the shores of Lady Bird Lake in an area adjacent to the old, and now repurposed, Seaholm Power and the Thomas C. Green Water Treatment plants, the entire thirty-five-story modern structure was leased by Google. It is also important to note that the building is close to Austin‘s modern Central Library. The building stands out in downtown Austin because it is not your usual square or rectangular structure. The internationally renowned firm Pelli Clarke Pelli is responsible for the design, which includes outdoor terraces on every level. According to Curbed Austin, the building will have 793,883 square feet of office space, including “a fitness center and recreation areas, lounges, kitchen and dining areas, conference centers,” and much more.

Please enjoy two additional photos I am including here. In the close-up you will see the terraces on every level of the building. As always, you can click on the small images to get to their full sizes.