AT&T is relocating its corporate headquarters from downtown Dallas to Plano. This move marks a major shift for one of North Texas’s largest employers and could carry significant economic implications for Dallas. According to reporting by Molly Wilhelm, Trending Reporter for Chron, the telecommunications giant will consolidate several regional offices into a new, purpose-built campus in Plano.
AT&T CEO John Stankey announced the decision to employees, saying the company plans to invest in a new global headquarters designed to enhance collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement. The new campus, located at 5400 Legacy Drive, will span 54 acres and combine AT&T’s existing Central Dallas, Plano, and Irving. Partial occupancy is expected to begin in the second half of 2028.
AT&T relocated its headquarters to downtown Dallas in 2008, after previously being based in San Antonio. While the company’s operations and structure have evolved over the past two decades, Stankey emphasized that AT&T remains committed to the broader Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex as a base for its global operations.
The announcement was welcomed enthusiastically by Plano officials, who described the project as a “world-class global headquarters” and praised AT&T’s investment as a reflection of the city’s business-friendly environment.
For Dallas, however, the move represents a notable loss. AT&T is the city’s largest Fortune 500 headquarters and its sixth-largest employer. A study cited by WFAA estimates that AT&T’s departure could lead to a 30% drop in downtown property values, resulting in approximately $2.7 billion in lost value and $62 million in reduced property tax revenue.
Despite these concerns, Dallas leaders struck an optimistic tone. Mayor Eric Johnson said the city worked to retain AT&T but acknowledged the company’s preference for a suburban, horizontal campus rather than a downtown high-rise setting. He emphasized Dallas’ recent progress in crime reduction, homelessness, tax rates, and development, noting more than $27 billion in new projects since 2019, including major investments like the forthcoming Goldman Sachs campus.
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert echoed that sentiment, describing AT&T’s decision as part of a broader shift in corporate culture and workplace design. She said the transition will be gradual and that AT&T will remain connected to Dallas for years to come, adding that the city remains resilient and well-positioned to attract new opportunities to its urban core.
Source: Chron
Author: Molly Wilhelm, Trending Reporter
Original story:
https://www.chron.com/news/article/at-t-moves-headquarters-dallas-plano-21277313.php