The Austin City Council approved on Monday a $275,000 agreement to purchase the Austin Utilities downtown office from the local energy company, which also houses city hall. Utilities officials will move into its new $18.6 million central administrative facility in northeast Austin once construction is complete next year.

The council approved moving forward with the agreement this past January. Under the deal, the city will also give four acres of land near its Cooke Farm development in exchange for the rest of the building at 400 Fourth St. NE, as well as nearby parking by Riverside Arena and a backlot.

Utilities officials are looking to consolidate office operations, including customer service, staff operations and administrative duties, from the seven buildings utilities workers use.

Austin Utilities has looked at options to improve its efficiencies for years — utilities officials bought 23 acres south of Todd Park in 2009 to potentially host a new building.