Filings: Apple now intends to put at least $240M into expansion of NW Austin campus

FILE – The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in the city center in Munich, Germany, on Dec. 16, 2020. Apple said Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, that it will…

FILE – The Apple logo is illuminated at a store in the city center in Munich, Germany, on Dec. 16, 2020. Apple said Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, that it will now offer full end-to-encryption for nearly all the data its users store in its global cloud-based storage system. That will make it more difficult for hackers, spies and law enforcement agencies to access sensitive user information. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

by: Cody Baird – Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal

Posted: Jan 11, 2023 / 11:19 AM CST

Updated: Jan 11, 2023 / 11:19 AM CST

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Apple Inc. intends to start construction relatively soon on another big building at its northwest Austin campus, raising to $240 million the total estimated cost of new development already unveiled this year.

On Jan. 6, a construction filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation revealed Apple’s plans to construct a four-story building for $120 million. On Jan. 9, a second TDLR filing for a five-story building doubled that price.

These filings, along with a pair from late last year, appear to show Apple bucking the trend of big tech slimming down in Austin. Facebook has plans to sublease the 589,000 square feet it leased at the Sixth and Guadalupe high-rise, Amazon.com Inc. expects 18,000 layoffs soon and IBM Corp. is looking to slash its office space in Austin in half.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment. It’s important to note TDLR filings are often preliminary and details can change, but in this case, they offer a glimpse into the Mac and iPhone maker’s local real estate plans.