By Austin American-Statesman
Publication Date: 2026-01-08 20:05:00
Google Inc. has finally set sail for its newest office space. The company has begun moving employees into the sail-shaped office tower in downtown Austin, according to multiple reports, the first occupancy of the building after years of pandemic-era delays.
The tech titan confirmed in March that it expected to move into the 35-story tower at 601 W. Second St., which was completed in 2022 but remained empty. Sail Tower overlooks Lady Bird Lake and is one of the most recognizable additions to Austin’s skyline in recent years.
Google signed a lease for the entire building in 2019, committing to the space through 2038, but postponed the move-in as office vacancy rates climbed both locally and nationally after the pandemic. In June 2023, a Google spokeswoman said the company was delaying the move as it worked “to ensure that our real estate investments match the needs of our hybrid workforce.”
Google wasn’t the only Austin business pulling back. In mid-2023, downtown vacancy for…
