A new mixed-use mass timber office building has broken ground at 2422 East 7th Street in East Austin. The four-story office and retail development, known as WORKBENCH, represents a collaboration between several established Austin firms and will showcase sustainable construction methods through its innovative use of mass timber.

The project, spearheaded by Dick Clark + Associates (DC+A) & Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate is being built by Swinerton at the corner of East 7th and Pedernales Streets. Excavation and foundation work has been underway for several weeks, and a tower crane was recently installed at the site:

The ground floor is set to house Legacy Lighting‘s retail showroom along with restaurant space designed to engage with the surrounding East Austin community. The building will also include one level of underground parking and various outdoor spaces, including patios and roof decks on each floor. Additional amenities include electric vehicle charging stations and carefully designed window overhangs to manage solar gain on the southern and western exposures.
The project will demonstrate different mechanical system approaches throughout the building, with each floor featuring a unique integration strategy. The second floor will utilize a traditional exposed overhead system, while the third floor will incorporate a raised access flooring system with concealed ventilation.

Sustainability is a key focus of the development, with the mass timber construction expected to store approximately 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Swinerton’s mass timber affiliate, Timberlab, will manufacture the cross-laminated timber (CLT) components at their Greenville, South Carolina facility and provide engineering services for the project.
The development team includes several women-owned businesses, which will occupy approximately two-thirds of the leasable space. Other local project partners include Fort Structures, Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate, and Art + Artisans.
Construction is anticipated to complete some time in 2026, adding to East Austin’s growing portfolio of innovative commercial developments. Upon completion, both Swinerton and DC+A will relocate their offices to the building, along with several of the project partners.
