AT&T has advanced two major real estate projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, securing final site plan approval for its new headquarters in Plano and moving forward with a call center expansion in Richardson. These developments mark the next steps in the telecom company's shift away from its downtown Dallas base, a move it announced in January.
In Plano, the planning and zoning commission approved minor adjustments to the site plan for the 54-acre campus at 5400 Legacy Drive. The primary change involved switching a proposed drainage detention pond to box culverts, a modification required by city code. The commission voted 8-0 to approve the measure, which was the only significant alteration to the plans presented to the city council in May.
An engineering permit for the project has been filed and is currently under review.
The new campus is designed to include 2.3 million square feet of building space, excluding parking garages. Features of the site include a child care center, a pedestrian bridge, public green space, and a tower that could reach 280 feet. The tallest office building, excluding the tower, will be eight stories.
AT&T is required to spend at least $1.35 billion on construction and employ 10,000 full-time workers at the property. The company will occupy the headquarters for 25 years and receive a 65% property tax rebate on improvements starting in 2030.
The site, formerly home to Electronic Data Systems, is being prepared for construction after portions of the old campus were imploded last month. A KDC entity purchased the land from NexPoint affiliates in mid-May, with AT&T serving as the tenant.