Mass timber office building called Workbench takes shape in East Austin
A new mass timber office project is taking shape in East Austin, and Swinerton is proud to serve as the general contractor. Located at 2422 E. Seventh St., Workbench is a 50,000-square-foot building set to become a collaborative hub for developers, architects, engineers, and other industry professionals. With a 16-month construction timeline, the project broke ground in October 2024 and is expected to be complete—including tenant finish-outs—by February 2026.
Designed by Dick Clark + Associates and developed through a unique ownership model, the building’s tenants include many of its development partners, creating an actual one-stop shop for the built environment. The ownership group also includes Lindgren Development, Fort Structures, Legacy Lighting, Art + Artisans, and Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate.
Constructed using mass timber—a sustainable alternative to traditional concrete and steel—Workbench showcases the efficiency and elegance of this modern building method.
According to Swinerton’s project executive Ryan Garris, mass timber allows multiple construction activities across floors simultaneously, significantly accelerating the build schedule. Additionally, the prefabricated nature of timber allows for smaller, more efficient labor crews and less time spent on costly equipment like tower cranes.
Technological innovations like virtual modeling and augmented reality are also helping keep the project on track. They enable teams to visualize and align every detail, down to the pre-drilled beam holes.
Workbench is poised to become a landmark of sustainable development in East Austin.
