Soaring above the north shore of Lady Bird Lake, the Google Tower—officially known as Block 185—is one of Austin's most distinctive additions to its fast-growing skyline. Completed in 2022, this 590-foot tower features a striking sail-like form, sharp angles, and a shimmering glass curtain wall that reflects the ever-changing Texas sky. It's not only an architectural marvel but also a bold symbol of Austin's emergence as a major tech hub. For photographers, Block 185 presents an opportunity to explore bold geometry, skyline contrast, and light interaction at a variety of times and distances, whether you're shooting reflections from the lakefront or isolating modern forms from bustling city streets.
Best Photography Opportunities
• Skyline views from Lady Bird Lake Trail
: The most cinematic view of the tower is from across the water along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. From this location, the tower's angular façade and gleaming glass walls reflect the lake, sky, and surrounding skyline in layered compositions. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the city in context or a telephoto to compress the skyline and place visual emphasis on Block 185's contrast with the older buildings nearby. These shots work especially well at golden hour, when the tower glows with reflected color and light, and during blue hour, when interior lighting outlines its bold silhouette against the deepening sky.
• Up-close street-level angles
: Standing beneath the tower at street level—especially along West Second Street or Shoal Creek Walk—offers opportunities to capture its sharp geometry from below. This is the best location for dramatic upward perspectives using a wide-angle lens to exaggerate the building's curvature and vertical thrust. Morning light reflects from the east-facing glass, while late afternoon backlight creates moody silhouettes and edge flares. This location is especially well suited to abstract compositions and architectural studies of the tower's form.
• Glass reflections and abstract textures
: The glass curtain wall of Block 185 is a canvas of reflections, shifting constantly with the movement of clouds and light. Isolate segments of the façade with a zoom lens to create abstract compositions from the interplay of sky, nearby structures, and afternoon sun. Reflections of the Austonian or the Colorado River can create layered stories within the frame, while puddles or glass railings along Shoal Creek Walk offer alternative surfaces for creative reflection work.
• Framing from city bridges and elevated trails
: The Lamar Boulevard and South First Street bridges both offer elevated, balanced views of the tower within the broader Austin skyline. These perspectives provide strong leading lines, symmetry, and context—ideal for capturing the building within the framework of its environment. Sunrise creates soft pastel tones across the skyline from these spots, while sunset offers silhouettes and golden edges to the tower's ridges. Blue hour long exposures from either bridge produce smooth water, glowing windows, and a seamless gradient across sky and skyline.
• Evening glow and city lights
: After sunset, Block 185 becomes a vibrant beacon, lit internally with office lights and externally by street lamps and traffic below. This is a great time to capture long exposures with movement from cars or people in the frame. The tower's curve becomes even more pronounced in the low light, and its reflective surface mirrors the glowing city. Position yourself along the Shoal Creek Trail to incorporate foreground interest such as benches, walkways, or foliage into your nighttime compositions.
Best Time to Visit
Block 185 is striking year-round, but its reflective surfaces and angular design respond best to the clean light of spring and fall. These seasons offer milder temperatures and crisp skies, ideal for shooting during extended golden hours. Spring mornings often bring clear reflections across Lady Bird Lake, while fall sunsets deliver deep reds and golds that transform the tower into a luminous focal point.
For lighting, sunrise offers warm tones across the tower's east-facing façade, with minimal foot traffic and calm water ideal for reflection shots. Sunset bathes the building's western edge in golden light and often casts dramatic shadows across nearby streets and walkways. Blue hour, especially after the first evening lights appear in the tower, is the most dramatic time for long exposures that blend natural and artificial light.
Overcast days soften the tower's sharp lines and create excellent conditions for detail shots and abstract reflection studies. Summer midday light can be harsh but creates strong contrast and bold color in reflective compositions. Stormy skies in any season can add a dramatic backdrop to the tower's sail-like profile.
How to Get There
Block 185 is located at 601 West Second Street in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas. It stands prominently along Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake, easily accessible by foot, bike, or car. From Interstate 35, take the Cesar Chavez Street exit west, and follow signs toward downtown. The building is just steps from the Second Street retail district and is surrounded by walkable trails, bridges, and scenic overlooks.
Public parking is available in nearby garages and surface lots, though downtown can be busy during events and peak times. The Ann and Roy Butler Trail and Shoal Creek Walk offer pedestrian access from multiple points along the river. The location is well-lit and generally active throughout the day and evening, making early morning and nighttime shoots comfortable and safe.
Recommended Gear and Shooting Tips
A wide-angle lens (16–35mm) is essential for capturing the full height and curvature of the tower when working up close from the street or the nearby trails. A mid-range zoom (24–70mm) gives you the flexibility to shoot street-level textures, mid-frame reflections, and layered city scenes. For isolating upper tower elements, compressing skyline views, or creating detail-rich abstracts, a telephoto lens (70–200mm) works beautifully.
A tripod is highly recommended for golden hour and blue hour shooting, especially from bridge crossings or the lakefront where long exposures smooth water and add ambient glow. A circular polarizer helps control glare from the glass and enhances sky contrast, especially when shooting midday or during clear conditions. ND filters can be useful for creating movement in clouds or softening lake surfaces to create mood.
Carry a lens cloth—city dust and glass reflections often require frequent cleaning. Scout the area at different times of day and return under different weather conditions to discover how dramatically the building changes in mood, tone, and light. Try multiple elevations—shooting from the ground, bridges, and parking decks all offer different interpretations of the same structure.
Nearby Photography Locations
• Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail
: This lakeside trail wraps around Lady Bird Lake and provides the city's most iconic skyline views. The area near the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge is especially good for wide compositions featuring Block 185 at center stage with layered reflections and clean horizon lines.
• The Long Center for the Performing Arts
: Across the lake, this elevated platform offers a sweeping view of downtown Austin's skyline. The position allows you to include foreground elements like silhouetted people, railings, and performance space architecture for strong storytelling and scale.
: A classic mid-level vantage point for capturing sunset and blue hour skyline views. The central location allows for balanced framing of the entire downtown core with Block 185 prominently angled among its neighbors.
• Seaholm District and Power Plant
: Just west of the tower, this redeveloped zone combines historic industrial buildings with modern design. It's ideal for capturing contrasts between old and new, and for composing leading lines along urban corridors that point toward the tower.
• Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores
: These green spaces across the lake are excellent for relaxed wide-angle compositions of the Austin skyline during events, festivals, or quiet sunset strolls. They offer open air, reflection potential, and people-in-landscape scenes that anchor the tower within Austin's active public life.
Block 185 is more than just a skyscraper—it's a sculptural centerpiece of Austin's contemporary identity. With its bold lines, responsive glass, and ever-changing reflections, the tower invites photographers to return again and again, always finding new ways to see the city unfold around it.
Comments
Loading comments…