AT&T is moving forward with plans to build a 280-foot communications tower at its new global headquarters in Plano after the City Council approved a zoning change this week, clearing the way for a structure that has already become one of the most talked-about corporate architecture projects in North Texas.

Concept renderings show the tower resembling a half-scale version of Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas — with the AT&T logo replacing the iconic ball at the top. The tower will serve a dual purpose: as both a working communications antenna and a branding statement for the company’s new 54-acre campus along Legacy Drive.

From Downtown Dallas to the Suburbs

AT&T announced in January that it was moving its global headquarters from downtown Dallas to the suburban Plano campus, which formerly housed Electronic Data Systems. Demolition of the existing buildings is underway and expected to take five to six months. The company hopes to have some employees on the new campus by late 2028.

In a letter to employees, AT&T’s CEO said a big reason for the move was that the nature of the company and its work had evolved. The new campus will consolidate all three of AT&T’s North Texas locations into a single site. The company has said downtown Dallas crime was not a factor in the decision, though Gov. Greg Abbott publicly blamed Dallas city leaders, arguing the city has a crime problem due to underfunded police. Dallas leaders pushed back on that characterization, pointing to efforts to reduce crime and homelessness.

What the Tower Says About AT&T’s Ambitions

The zoning approval was necessary because the tower will function as a communications antenna, requiring special use permits. Plano Councilmember Bob Kehr praised the design, saying AT&T is “no longer relying on a building to be iconic — they’re using a sculpture. I think it’s going to add so much to our city.”

For Dallas-Fort Worth, the tower is a symbol of a larger shift. As AT&T and other major employers move from the urban core to Plano and Frisco, the balance of corporate power in the metroplex is tilting northward. Plano’s Legacy West district — already home to Fidelity Investments and HP Enterprise — continues to draw companies willing to invest in signature architecture as a recruiting tool and brand statement.

With Samsung also relocating its U.S. headquarters to Plano, the city is emerging as the corporate capital of Collin County — and the tower, visible for miles, will make that status impossible to miss.

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