Three high-rise buildings have been identified as leading candidates to become the new Dallas City Hall if the city decides to relocate from its current facility at 1500 Marilla Street, according to building owners and real estate developers familiar with the process. The three potential sites include two towers located within Dallas’ central business district and one newer property in the Deep Ellum neighborhood.

The frontrunners are Bryan Tower at 2001 Bryan Street, The Epic at 2550 Pacific Avenue, and Comerica Bank Tower at 1717 Main Street. While these three buildings are considered preferred options, additional downtown locations remain under consideration but are viewed as secondary choices.

City officials have been assessing a range of sites in recent weeks, with at least 15 properties toured by select members of the city’s leadership as part of the effort to identify a replacement for the existing City Hall, which was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei. This evaluation follows deliberations by the Dallas City Council, which on Wednesday authorized the city manager to begin negotiations with up to four landlords for a potential new City Hall location.

The council also approved allocating up to $3 million to conduct feasibility studies on prospective sites for housing city offices and emergency operations. During the meeting, city officials declined to publicly disclose which buildings were under active consideration.

Bryan Tower, constructed in the early 1970s, once played a significant role in the transformation of downtown Dallas from an entertainment hub to a business-centered district. The largely vacant 40-story building, noted for its cultural significance, is seen by some as a candidate well-suited for a civic function.

Billy Prewitt from Pacific Elm, the Dallas-based owner of Bryan Tower, confirmed that city representatives have toured the building multiple times. The latest visit took place in late May and included Mayor Eric Johnson.

City leadership’s ongoing evaluation reflects an effort to find a facility that can better meet the operational needs of the municipal government while supporting emergency services, a priority underscored by the council’s funding approval. The process remains fluid as negotiations continue and further assessments are carried out.