Dallas city officials are evaluating three prominent high-rise properties as potential sites for a new civic headquarters, amid shifting urban dynamics and evolving office space demands.
One contender is Bryan Tower, a landmark completed in 1972 and recognized for its modernist design influenced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The building, originally developed by Trammell Crow’s firm and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. at the equivalent of over $350 million today, holds cultural significance as the fictional headquarters of Ewing Oil in the original season of the "Dallas" television series. Despite its heritage, the tower has faced challenges recently, including the departure of its anchor tenant Baylor Scott & White in 2018 and foreclosure in 2021. After being acquired in early 2022 by Prewitt and Pacific Elm, plans were announced to convert approximately half of Bryan Tower into residential apartments, though work has not yet commenced. The building is expected to be vacant within the year. Adjacent to the tower, a half-acre parking lot owned by Pacific Elm is also under consideration for council chambers, with convenient access to the DART St. Paul Station.
Another leading option is The Epic, a newer mixed-use development located outside the central business district in Deep Ellum. Developed by Westdale and KDC, The Epic comprises two office towers with a combined footprint of about 750,000 square feet and an attached parking garage. The first tower was completed in 2018, while the second followed after Uber announced plans in 2019 to bring a large employee presence, a commitment later scaled back amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, Epic 1 is 65% leased, and Epic 2, which includes 665,000 square feet of parking, is mostly occupied but has available space. Westdale, a major landowner in Deep Ellum, has actively engaged with city officials and produced renderings for potential council chambers on a 2.5-acre parcel north of Epic 1. While the site’s modern amenities and ample parking are viewed favorably, language from a recent city council meeting specifying candidates within the central business district could limit The Epic’s eligibility.
The third property under consideration is Comerica Bank Tower, Dallas’ third-tallest building, designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson and initially opened in 1987 as Momentum Place. The skyscraper is currently 68% leased but is facing a significant vacancy challenge following Fifth Third Bank’s recent decision to vacate its space within 90 days, potentially reducing occupancy to 57%. In 2024, the Toronto-based Slate Asset Management acquired the tower and proposed a redevelopment plan to transform portions of the 1.6 million square feet of office area into a 242-room hotel, 240 residential units, and a new 437-space parking garage. The progress of this redevelopment remains uncertain.
Additional downtown locations mentioned include Bank of America Plaza, 1700 Pacific, and Renaissance Tower. A major redevelopment initiative is underway for Bank of America Plaza, Dallas’ tallest building, with local developers Mike Hoque and Mike Ablon seeking to convert office space and add hotel rooms in a $409 million project backed by a $103 million public funding commitment. However, acquisition negotiations with the current Chicago-based owner, Metropolis Investment Holdings, are ongoing. Renaissance Tower, Dallas’ second-tallest building and another former Ewing Oil location in the "Dallas" series, along with 1700 Pacific, have also been identified as possible alternatives by Prewitt.
As the city weighs these options, considerations such as historic significance, location within or outside the central business district, parking availability, and redevelopment potential are shaping the discussions for Dallas’ next civic headquarters.