AT&T and City of Dallas plan downtown destination for eating, shopping and playing

Under Plan, AT&T Would Stay at Current Site and Create ‘Destination Location’

AT&T* and the city of Dallas are working on a plan to keep the company’s headquarters in downtown Dallas, and transform the location into a downtown destination and greenspace open to the public. AT&T would invest millions to renovate the buildings and outdoor area with food, retail and entertainment spots.

The area – AT&T Discovery District – would become an urban-tech center. It would have well-lit, wide sidewalks, landscaping and venues for entertainment. Downtown workers, residents and visitors would be able to shop, dine, relax and connect.

“Downtown Dallas is our home. We want to stay and create a unique, inviting space – not only for our employees – but for all,” said John Stephens, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, AT&T. “If we’re able to move ahead, we believe the project will draw people to south downtown Dallas. It could offer considerable long-term economic benefits to area businesses, hotels, restaurants and the city.

“But we’re not doing this alone. The city of Dallas, DART, Downtown Dallas Inc. and local businesses are working with us to build this area and recharge south downtown Dallas,” Stephens said.

Since moving its global headquarters to Dallas in 2008, the company’s downtown employee presence has doubled. Nearly 5,700 people work in AT&T’s 4-building downtown complex at Akard and Commerce streets.

Since 2008, AT&T has invested more than $100 million to renovate the inside and outside of its headquarters. And the company intends to continue making significant investments.

“We not only want to give our employees a great place to work, we want to provide an outdoor destination for other workers, local residents and visitors,” Stephens said. “We want to see downtown Dallas thrive.”

AT&T Discovery District would be a new gathering spot for downtown workers and help to boost local tourism. It would offer an outdoor event space, public art spaces, retail locations and free Wi-Fi. We’ll also provide improved landscaping and lighting, fountains, seating and wider sidewalks – all consistent with the Downtown Dallas 360 plan.

“I’m excited to work alongside AT&T and create this innovative space in downtown Dallas,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. “It is important that the city of Dallas works to ensure this great corporate citizen, which has done so much for our community, remains in Dallas.”

“Creating a destination headquarters location will help draw more people, business and energy to this important area of downtown, creating a dynamic connection between several districts,” said Kourtny Garrett, president, Downtown Dallas, Inc. “We are supportive of AT&T’s vision to create a downtown park and urban-tech center, because we believe it will benefit all residents, local businesses, downtown workers and more. We expect this investment from AT&T would help grow the local economy and continue to demonstrate that our city is innovative, business friendly and economically strong.”

As part of this significant renovation, AT&T is asking the city to make changes to several surrounding streets to improve safety for pedestrians and to improve the flow of traffic around the complex.