Hines to Bring Mass Timber Office to Austin
T3 Eastside is the firm's first timber office concept that also includes a residential element.
Hines has announced plans to develop T3 Eastside, the Houston-based firm’s first office building with a residential element built using mass timber, on Austin’s East Side. The mixed-use development will be constructed using sustainably sourced wood.
T3 Eastside will take shape at 1200 E. Fourth St. The approximately 101,000-square-foot project will feature a Class A creative office component totaling 92,000 square feet and 9,200 square feet of space dedicated to residential use. The development will feature 15 loft-style apartments. Planned amenities include a rooftop patio, private balconies, a conference room as well as a fitness center.
The project will rise just a few blocks from Interstate 35 and less than 2 miles from downtown Austin. Once complete, JLL will provide leasing services for T3 Eastside.
While the project is Hines’ first office development in the city in over 40 years, the firm plans to grow its presence with upcoming projects across various sectors, including office, multifamily, life sciences as well as student and senior housing, according to the company.
A more sustainable approach
Every two years, the amount of mass timber constructions doubles worldwide, according to the 2021 International Mass Timber Report issued by Forest Business Network. If this continues, the trend is set to tip the scales for carbon emissions within the North American building industry by 2034, with more carbon stored than produced.
T3 Eastside is part of Hines’ T3 creative concept that stands for timber, transit and technology. The company first used mass timber in its office development during the construction of T3 Minneapolis, completed in November 2016. Most recently, Hines broke ground on T3 Sterling Road in Toronto, a two-building office complex totaling 450,000 square feet under the same brand.
In July, Columbia Property Trust completed the vertical expansion of 80 M Street and opted for the use of mass timber as a more sustainable alternative to steel as well as other benefits.
Austin leads the way
At the end of June, the Texas capital had a robust office pipeline with 7.2 million square feet of office space underway, according to CommercialEdge data. That figure accounts for 8.4 percent of the metro’s total stock, more than triple the 2.4 percent national rate.
Recently, Austin was among leading markets for delivered office projects, with Trammell Crow and Principal Real Estate Investors’ 708,438-square-foot Indeed Tower ranking fourth as one of the largest office developments delivered in the first half of the year.
