The Austin Board of Realtors held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 12 for its new headquarters to be located at 4800 Spicewood Springs Road.

The new building will be about 33,000 square feet and includes video technology, a members lounge, three auditoriums for meeting space and an outdoor terrace. The event center will have 33 percent more space than ABOR's current auditorium and includes two projection screens. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified project is expected to be completed in November 2014. Architecture firm STG Design is responsible for the design of the building.

"I'm most excited that we are getting started," said ABOR's CEO Paul Hilgers. "I'm also excited about how the realtors came together. This is a big investment of the members' money and this board is serious about protecting the future of the [Austin] Board of Realtors."

ABOR's headquarters will sit on about 5.3 acres of land, said Scott Taylor, project manager. Preparation for excavation and construction on the project will begin next week and demolition of the 1,7600 square foot home that currently sits on the property will begin soon, he said.

ABOR is a nonprofit organization founded in 1926 that provides real estate services to its members, including legislative representation, education and networking opportunities. ABOR's current headquarters is located at 10900 Stonelake Blvd., Ste. A-100.

"This is going to be a first class facility," Hilgers said. "It is going to be a building that offers services to our members that will make them better realtors and better citizens."