The city of Dallas is evaluating the vacant Bryan Tower in the downtown area as a potential site for a new City Hall, according to reporting referenced from the Dallas Business Journal. The 40-story office building, located at 2001 Bryan St., is currently empty and has emerged as a candidate as city leaders assess long-term options for municipal office space.
Ownership of Bryan Tower is attributed to Pacific Elm, which has reportedly been in discussions with the city about the possibility of Dallas taking over the entire property. While no transaction structure or timing has been disclosed, the talks underscore the city’s interest in consolidating its governmental functions into a large, single-tenant office building.
Bryan Tower was completed in 1973, placing it among the older high-rise office assets in the downtown skyline. Its current lack of occupancy positions it as a potential large-block solution at a time when the city is reviewing the efficiency, condition, and long-term viability of its existing City Hall complex.
A report prepared by the Dallas Economic Development Corp. concluded that renovating the current City Hall would require nearly $1 billion in investment, noting that many of the building’s systems are beyond their usable life. That estimate is a key input in the city’s analysis of whether to reinvest in the existing civic facility or relocate municipal operations to a different office property.
If Dallas ultimately opts to relocate City Hall, the city is seeking approximately 500,000 square feet of office space to accommodate traditional city functions. That requirement underscores the scale of the city’s space needs and points to a potential single-asset or multi-building solution within the downtown office inventory.
In addition to Bryan Tower, the former headquarters building of AT&T Inc., known as Whitacre Tower, has also been mentioned as a possible future City Hall location. Pacific Elm is described as a part owner of Whitacre Tower, giving the firm a presence in multiple large downtown office properties that could factor into the city’s decision-making process.
No decisions have been announced regarding which building, if any, will be selected, and no financial terms, timing, or transaction structures have been disclosed at this stage.
