Google Expands Into More of Its Long-Vacant Austin Tower
Google will build out an additional 68,875 square feet across multiple floors at the 35-story Sail Tower in downtown Austin, according to an Aug. 11 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The $25 million project will convert shell-condition office space into finished workspace and renovate amenity, storage, and mechanical areas. Construction begins Aug. 14 and is expected to finish in May 2027. Google signed a full-building lease for the 804,000-square-foot tower in 2019, but the building sat vacant until late 2025, when the company moved into the first four floors.
Google’s expansion stands in contrast to recent moves by other tech firms in Austin, including Meta Platforms and Indeed, which have reduced their footprints and placed space on the sublease market. Digital Realty Trust has subleased 11,199 square feet from Google in the building, according to a May 2025 TDLR filing. Google has also committed space in the tower to its Google.org nonprofit division, which will make portions available for community programming and events.
Before occupying the building in late 2025, Google carried lease costs on the empty tower for roughly three years. Rental rates for trophy properties in Austin’s Central Business District averaged $67.39 per square foot at year-end 2019, suggesting Google paid approximately $53.2 million annually during the vacancy period. The buildout indicates the company is now committed to using more of the space it leased, even as other tech occupiers pull back.
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