A long-talked-about mass-timber office at 901 S. Congress Ave. is finally inching toward reality, only now it is on a slimmer diet than earlier versions suggested. The Related Companies' South Congress project, first unveiled in 2022, has gone through multiple redesigns as permits and plans have slowly come together.
Newly obtained filings show the building is smaller than many in town had been expecting and is only now taking shape nearly four years after that first splashy announcement, according to the Austin Business Journal. Reporter Cody Baird's May 12 rundown details the updated paperwork and how the scheme has shifted over time.
Back in September 2022, Related rolled out a vision for a five-story, roughly 106,854 square foot building designed by Gensler and touted as the company’s first “sustainably forested” mass timber office, according to Related. The pitch leaned hard into Austin vibes, with terraces, exposed timber interiors, and a hospitality-flavored office concept aimed squarely at the city’s lifestyle corridor along South Congress.
Then the project bulked up. State records show the concept was later filed in a considerably larger form. A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation entry from March 2023 lists a “South Congress Mixed Use” project at about 264,000 square feet, with seven stories above ground and four levels of below-grade parking. The filing names Related as the owner and M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates as the design firm, capturing a brief phase when the development appeared headed for a much bigger footprint.
Developers around the country have been trimming projects as office leasing cools and lenders grow more cautious. In Austin, Colliers' Q1 2026 office report pegs vacancy above 22%, a tough backdrop for landing tenants in large speculative buildings. Mass timber remains a darling for its sustainability credentials and quicker construction timelines, but the format can be vulnerable to specialized supply chains and higher up-front costs, a mix that builders such as Swinerton have noted on other local timber jobs.
Where it stands
For now, the final square footage, height and construction schedule for 901 S. Congress are still moving targets as Related and its design team continue to refine drawings and work through the permitting process. Neighbors, retailers and office brokers along South Congress will be watching the next wave of filings and any leasing news closely to see how this scaled back plan ultimately reshapes foot traffic and the feel of the corridor.
