Women Building Austin
CREW Convention Tour at WORKBENCH Redefines the Future of Sustainable Development
When CREW Network’s 2025 Convention came to Austin, over 1,400 commercial real estate professionals from across the country gathered for a week of networking, education, and dealmaking. But one tour stood out from the rest — a behind-the-scenes look at WORKBENCH, East Austin’s newest and most innovative mass timber office development.
Hosted by three women who didn’t just talk about Austin’s growth but built it themselves, the WORKBENCH tour gave CREW members an up-close look at how sustainability, ownership, and design intersect to create the next era of commercial real estate.
Meet the Women Behind WORKBENCH
WORKBENCH is the creation of Jennifer Seay, Shawna Sieck, and DeLea Becker — three long-established Austin business owners who came together to create something bigger than themselves.
Jennifer Seay, Founder & CEO of Art + Artisans, specializes in curating art programs for major real estate developments nationwide.
Shawna Sieck, President of Legacy Lighting, leads an award-winning firm that designs sustainable, energy-efficient lighting systems across Texas.
DeLea Becker, Founder of Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate & Asset Management, is East Austin’s go-to expert for commercial development, investment, and brokerage.
Together, they represent a rare statistic: only 3% of commercial real estate nationwide is owned or managed by women.
About WORKBENCH — A New Model for Small-Scale Development
Located at E. 7th Street and Pedernales, WORKBENCH is a 48,000-square-foot, mass timber mixed-use office project designed around collaboration, sustainability, and ownership.
Rather than leasing space from institutional developers, these women pooled resources and equity to design and develop their own headquarters — creating a model that combines personal investment with professional synergy.
When completed, the building will host office, retail, and restaurant space, including the headquarters for Art + Artisans, Legacy Lighting, and Beck-Reit CRE — alongside creative businesses and community-minded tenants.
The CREW Tour Experience: What Attendees Learned
The East Austin Innovative Developments Tour, held on October 8, 2025, began at the WORKBENCH site — where attendees were welcomed by the partners and guided through the vision, design, and sustainable systems that make this project one-of-a-kind.
1. Vision & Design — Presented by Jennifer Seay
Seay kicked off the tour by explaining how WORKBENCH was designed to mirror the creative energy of East Austin while setting a new standard for human-centered workspaces.
“We wanted to create something that reflected who we are -hands-on, collaborative, and intentional,” Seay said.
“Every piece of this building tells a story — from the art on the walls to the wood in the walls.”
Seay also discussed how art integration plays a key role in connecting people to their environments, highlighting how curated pieces throughout the project will tie local culture into the built form.
2. Sustainability & Systems — Presented by Shawna Sieck
Sieck led the group through the mechanical, lighting, and mass timber systems, explaining how this project sets a new bar for sustainable construction in Austin.
WORKBENCH’s structure combines cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (GLT) — a renewable, carbon-storing alternative to steel and concrete.
The building will store over 500 metric tons of CO₂, equal to removing 301 cars from the road each year.
The material’s natural strength and warmth make the building both efficient and inspiring.
Paired with high-efficiency lighting, smart building controls, and passive daylighting, the design slashes operational energy use.
“Lighting and structure shouldn’t fight each other,” Sieck explained. “When design and systems work in harmony, sustainability becomes the byproduct — not the afterthought.”
She also noted that Legacy Lighting’s design team developed a fully integrated lighting control system tailored for mass timber — balancing aesthetics with LEED-level energy performance.
Why This Convention Mattered
The CREW Convention wasn’t just a gathering — it was a turning point.
It showcased what happens when women take the mic, hold the keys, and lead the tours of the cities they’re helping to build.
Only 3% of commercial real estate worldwide is owned or managed by women.
WORKBENCH is proof that statistic is changing — right here in Austin.
As Shawna, Jennifer, and DeLea continue to build and invest in East Austin, they’re not waiting for permission.
They’re writing the playbook — and leading the tour.
Workbench
Address:2422 East 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
Square Feet: 48,000
Preleased: 75%
Stories: 4
Expected Delivery: 1Q 2026
Developer: Dick Clark + Associates
Architect: Dick Clark + Associates
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Swinerton
Leasing | MARKETING + SALES Team: Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate
EQUITY PARTNERS: DC+A, Beck-Reit, Swinerton, Lindgren, Art + Artisans, Fort Structures, Legacy Lighting
The Team Behind WORKBENCh
This women-led effort was powered by some of Austin’s most respected professionals:
General Contractor: Swinerton Builders, led by Alison Satt, VP & Division Manager — one of the first to deploy mass timber at this scale in Austin.
Architecture & Interiors: Dick Clark + Associates, with Kim Power, Partner — shaping the vision for sustainable and design-forward workspaces.
Together, they’ve proven that sustainable, small-scale urban development doesn’t require sacrificing quality — or control..
“WORKBENCH isn’t just another development; it’s a milestone. With women representing 50% of the equity partners, we’re setting a powerful precedent in an industry where female ownership is rare. Together, we’re building a space that reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and most importantly, to empowering women to take their rightful place in commercial real estate. GET IN THE GAME”
— DeLea Becker
Founder and Broker, Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate
