AT&T began work on its planned global headquarters in Plano, Texas, on Nov. 12, tying a major corporate relocation to city grants and property-tax relief with construction, space and job requirements.
A 2.2 million-square-foot complex with seven buildings is planned for the 54-acre site, which will bring the company’s Dallas-Fort Worth teams together. AT&T expects the first employees to arrive in the second half of 2028. Plano’s agreement describes the project as a relocation of AT&T’s business and commercial activities to the city.
AT&T says the campus network is intended to support artificial intelligence, real-time collaboration and other workplace tools, while improving wireless access in nearby areas. The plan calls for fiber and 5G coverage across the property, along with a working cell tower about 250 feet tall.
The city’s tax-rebate agreement sets a minimum of $1.35 billion in construction spending on property improvements. It also requires at least 2 million square feet of space for offices, amenities and retail at 5400 Legacy Drive by Dec. 31, 2029. That threshold is a contractual minimum, not a disclosed final price for the project.
A separate Chapter 380 grant agreement covers jobs. Under it, AT&T agreed to transfer, retain or create up to 10,000 full-time job equivalents by Dec. 31, 2039. Transferred and retained positions can count, so the commitment does not mean 10,000 new hires.
Plano approved up to $20 million in grants from its economic development fund, conditional on AT&T meeting its obligations. The tax deal returns 65% of city property taxes AT&T pays on improvements during a 25-year term. It allows a 10-year extension at 25% if AT&T buys the property; the agreements do not state the rebate’s total value.
Plano funds the grants and returns a portion of property taxes paid on improvements if the conditions are met, while AT&T receives support tied to building, occupying and staffing the site. Plano Mayor John Muns called the project a “significant investment in our community.”
