By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
For the first time publicly, SB Energy shared today with Four Points News that Graphcore – an advanced AI chip and systems company founded in the UK and a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group – has located its U.S. engineering headquarters at the former 3M site in Four Points.
“Graphcore is eager to move into the new spaces being developed by SB Energy,” a SB Energy spokesperson said.
SB Energy, an affiliated company of SoftBank Group International, acquired the former 3M campus known as HighPoint from Karlin Properties in early 2026.
The campus at 6801 River Place Blvd. has 1.2 million-square-feet that 3M used as office and laboratory space. It sits on 156-acres and has been empty since 2019.
“The purpose of the acquisition was to create a R&D center to support product development needs of multiple companies engaged in the development of advanced technologies such as chips, high-performance computing, and robotics,” shared the SB Energy spokesperson.
“As a critical infrastructure company, SB Energy was an ideal company to lead the property development for HighPoint, having been a great partner with the State of Texas on many other infrastructure projects,” she said.
The first order of business once the property was acquired was to modernize the campus infrastructure transforming it from its original 3M R&D usage into a technology focused R&D campus.
“This transformation includes building labs and office spaces inside the main HighPoint building and outfitting the building to enable advanced technology systems in the existing footprint of the property,” the SB Energy spokesperson shared.
“All of this site development work is within terms of the original SDA (site development agreement) negotiated between 3M and the City of Austin in the late 1980’s, no changes to zoning or usage of the property has been requested,” the spokesperson said. “These even included strict sound ordinance passed 40 years ago.”
She added that all operations of the new R&D center are planned to be in compliance with that original zoning and latest building permit for office and lab.
“Regarding the site usage – it still remains planned as an R&D Center. Per building application to the city of Austin, it is permitted as an office and lab space as intended use,” the spokesperson said.
The current project upgrades cover a portion of the existing building and include upgrades to the local substation and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to support Graphcore’s R&D activities.
The location of the former parking garage will ultimately be used to house and service mechanical and electrical equipment for the site.
“Out of an abundance of caution and with the surrounding community in mind, we are installing a sound-dampening screen around that area. This has been approved in the site development plans with the city of Austin,” the spokesperson shared.
She added that the cooling system Graphcore will use will be a closed loop, meaning water is recirculated through the system, rather than requiring additional water. Ongoing water usage will be for restrooms, landscaping, and other typical office needs.
Linda Bailey, president of the Lake Austin Collective, appreciates knowing who will be the tenant of the site.
“The community will be very glad that SB Energy will start communicating with us,” Bailey said. “We still a lot of questions about the electricity and water usage and noise.”
Graphcore currently has about 40 employees working on site, the spokesperson said, and will occupy additional space when renovations are completed in phases.
The first phase of major construction is expected to be finished by spring of 2027.
Ultimately the site could have hundreds of operational workers, according to the SB Energy spokesperson.
Traffic is expected to be less than what was required by the previous long-time owner.
Four Points News asked SB Energy about working with the Leander Independent School District to allow buses through the campus during peak times.
“Our team is still looking at potential options. Given our tenant’s requirements, we need to secure the facility from non-project-related traffic and are not able at this time to accommodate bus traffic through the site. That said, our community team is eager to work with the school district to facilitate conversations on how we can be good partners in other ways,” shared the spokesperson.
A meeting with LISD is reportedly in the works in a couple of weeks.
