AT&T has told employees it will move its global headquarters out of downtown Dallas and into a new, sprawling campus in Plano — a shift that’s both literal and symbolic for North Texas corporate geography.
The telecom giant’s CEO, John Stankey, confirmed in an internal memo that the company plans to build a new headquarters at 5400 Legacy Drive in Plano. The site spans roughly 54 acres and is being billed as a consolidated home for administrative work now spread across multiple North Texas locations. AT&T is targeting partial occupancy in the new space by mid‑to‑late 2028.
Why Plano, and why now?
Leaders inside AT&T framed the move as an effort to create workspaces better suited to how the company expects people to use them going forward. After instituting stricter return‑to‑office expectations, AT&T experienced shortages of desks and parking at existing sites; the company says a single, horizontal campus will allow more collaboration, better parking and more modern amenities than a collection of towers and smaller offices.
Stankey told staff the plan followed “nearly a year of consideration, deliberation and planning.” Company spokespeople also said many employees already live in North Dallas suburbs, and the new campus will be closer to where people live — a logistical argument that has real weight when thousands commute across the region daily.
Those internal dynamics match a broader trend: several large companies in North Texas have favored suburban, campus‑style headquarters in recent years, citing ease of access, acreage for development and room to customize facilities.
The downtown ripple effects
The move is a blow to Dallas’ skyline economy. AT&T has been anchored in downtown Dallas since 2008; its presence supported office demand, foot traffic for restaurants and retailers, and tax revenue tied to high‑value properties near the core.
Local officials reacted quickly. Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert emphasized that the decision reflects AT&T’s preference for a horizontal campus rather than a judgment against Dallas itself. Mayor Eric Johnson and other city leaders said they worked to keep the company in the city and acknowledged that current corporate leadership favored suburban acreage over skyscrapers.
Economic studies cited by local groups have warned of tangible consequences. One analysis commissioned by Downtown Dallas Inc. estimated property values downtown could meaningfully decline if AT&T fully vacates its central offices — a scenario that would reverberate through property tax receipts and nearby businesses that depend on weekday office populations.
At the same time, Dallas officials say AT&T won’t disappear overnight. The company has long leases and a phased timeline. City leaders have already flagged efforts to recruit new headquarters and major employers to fill any gaps left by large relocations.
What happens to Whitacre Tower and other sites?
Whitacre Tower — the 37‑story building that has housed much of AT&T’s downtown workforce — now faces an uncertain future. AT&T’s planned consolidation leaves questions about long‑term leases, repurposing large office floors and what new tenants, if any, might occupy that space.
For surrounding developments such as the Discovery District — a relatively new, walkable corporate neighborhood built with outdoor space and retail in mind — the relocation raises immediate occupancy and vibrancy questions. Developers and property managers will be watching leasing markets closely over the next few years.
The company’s perspective
AT&T framed the move as an investment in employees and the company’s ability to innovate. Stankey underscored continued confidence in the Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex even as the company opts for Plano’s Legacy business district. The company says the new campus will be designed for “collaboration, innovation and engagement,” language companies often use when redesigning workplaces after hybrid‑work and return‑to‑office policy shifts.
Internally, AT&T cited results from engagement surveys that flagged expectations for better‑maintained and more functional workspaces. Those findings — plus practical issues like parking and underused high‑rise floors during hybrid schedules — helped shape the decision.
Local politics and tone
City leaders in Plano celebrated the win, calling AT&T’s investment a strong vote of confidence in the Legacy district’s momentum. Downtown Dallas officials and council members took a measured tone: disappointment mixed with a resolve to reimagine the urban core and attract new employers.
“This was a business decision driven by the company’s desire for a large, horizontal suburban‑style campus,” a Dallas official said, reflecting the blunt logic that shaped the final choice.
No company move this size happens overnight. AT&T’s transition will be gradual, with phased occupancy and lingering ties to Dallas for years to come. Still, the announcement is a visible marker of how corporate preferences — for land, parking and campus culture — continue to shape city skylines and suburban growth.
If there’s one clear result, it’s that Dallas and Plano will now be recalibrating: Dallas to shore up downtown’s economic base and reimagine large office buildings; Plano to prepare for the influx of a major corporate neighbor. Both efforts will play out over years, and both will quietly reshape how people work and commute across North Texas.