AT&T CEO offers 'first look' at multibillion-dollar Plano HQ

Posted by stanner5@reddit | plano | View on Reddit | 94 comments

AT&T CEO John Stankey posted these pictures and wrote the following in a LinkedIn post:

"At AT&T, building our new headquarters in Plano, TX is about far more than real estate. It’s a strategic investment in our people, culture, and the way we work…today and into the future.

We started with a clean sheet of paper and a location central to the communities where most of our employees live. As we kick-off the multi-year journey to build the new campus, we are focused on a few key considerations as we build for today and the next generation of AT&T leaders:

• Enabling stronger collaboration and faster execution – designed for the pace and complexity of ongoing transformation as we transition from hardware to software and pivot to a market-based culture
• Supporting life-work integration through amenities that advance well-being and everyday convenience
• Creating a place that will help us attract and retain top talent – where employees are proud to work
• Reinforcing our brand and purpose through a location that extends beyond our campus and has a positive impact on the local area

One of the defining features will be an iconic tower, a foundational part of the campus, delivering world-class cell coverage to the campus and our new home neighborhood. Today, I’m sharing a first look at its proposed design.

With a globe at the top, it will stand out on the horizon, a symbol both of our headquarters and the advanced connectivity we provide across this country.

I hope AT&T employees and potential employees of the future share my excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead."

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LetsSolveAProblem@reddit

or increase wages.

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BamaPhils@reddit

Or stop asking for insane handouts like Plano’s council gave them

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TheBrettFavre4@reddit

NPR did a thing down here in Austin about Elon and his handouts. They talked about got billion dollar companies the tax breaks cities give them is like fractional write offs. Okay cool, $30M tax break. AT&Ts market cap is $178B lol.

The era of tax breaks needs to end. Our schools need that money, our sick need that money, our workers need that money, our fucking people need that money - those dollars go so far in the daily lives of real world people.

Instead we supply the coffee and snacks and these super complexes while the ultra elite buy another yacht, or plane, or election and with it country, etc.

We need to vote our asses off as long and as often as we can and hope that’s all it takes to get back on track. Otherwise, the alternatives are for sure worrisome.

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justinadcocktx@reddit

The schools will still get their property tax money. The tax abatement the city granted (65%) will only affect the city’s portion of property taxes. Assuming it’s a $1.5 billion property, it would still provide almost $25 million/year in property taxes to the city (after the abatement).

Toyota was given a 50% tax abatement for 10 years when they located here. Check out the appraisal district website and you can see the appraised values and that the county, school, and Collin College still get their share of property tax revenue generated by the property (at the full valuation).

https://esearch.collincad.org/Property/View/2961158?year=2026&ownerId=918846

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la-fours@reddit

If it helps they wouldn’t have given the money to those causes in the first place.

FabulousBullfrog9610@reddit

this will be the view outside my apartment.

eric535@reddit

Are they knocking down the existing EDS? Or whatever building there now or redesigning it

ihadtopickaname@reddit

Is that this building? I’ve always wondered what that was.

LivingBestLife777@reddit

I've previously read that they are demolishing the old EDS campus (the old building isn't efficient). Also, their article says "We started with a clean sheet of paper " - but, looking at the drawing, it seems that the same footprint will be incorporated. I hope that they do a nod to old EDS.

Any-Huckleberry2593@reddit

Being demolished

Pumpnethyl@reddit

Yes. I worked in the EDS HQ building for 15 years. It was half empty and falling apart in 2009. It was beautiful when built. It was never completely finished out inside. Massive

drummybear67@reddit

Yes complete demo

RobotTinkerbellCake@reddit

Previously worked there. Will be a shame to see it go. No more Emerald City / Death Star on the hill

CrownedClownAg@reddit

Complete tear down

whydoueat@reddit

If they have so much money why can’t they just lower the prices.

Tmdngs@reddit

That’s why they have so much money. What a dumb comment

Ok-Big9680@reddit

That's not exactly how capitalism works....

Lowcalcalzonezone69@reddit

Their execs need a cool looking building to rule over. But only so other execs will be so totally jealous

Snobolski@reddit

The "multi-billion dollar" part is when AT&T takes the incentives from the city and puts it in their executives' pockets.

And in 20 years when they leave and strong-arm Little Elm to move there, what business will want to move into that Reunion-tower-lite abomination?

Menelatency@reddit

That light is pure decoration. Not near big enough to house people. Just a big gaudy sign post.

What if they're really small people?

I think ye’ might’ve confused the company with Fey Tee & Tea, the clothing and beverage company for the little people.

rscar77@reddit

It'll become the Mavs new HQ building then

LOL, I love it!

lewdComment6969@reddit

For context, AT&T has laid off \~150k employees since 2017.

"reductions are part of a massive multi-year restructuring. Since 2017, AT&T's workforce has shrunk by more than half - from a peak of roughly 280,000 to the current 133,000"

lolster32@reddit

In 2099 they'll probably relocate to Sherman Texas based on how everything just moves up north

Zealousideal-Lie7255@reddit

This may not be popular on the Plano subreddit but I’ll say it anyway. The tower reminds me of the knife that AT&T stabbed in Downtown’s back.

Sad_Imagination_1280@reddit

And they treat their employees like complete garbage

dontreadthi@reddit

Where's the location?

chaos-blast@reddit

Yep, I’m sure your workforce will appreciate this more than higher salaries. Very excited I’m sure

nslimmo@reddit

Casual, helmetless biking on a major road in Plano? Good luck with that.

No_Hat_4465@reddit

This was the funniest part to me

FuturePath6357@reddit

That's pretty cool. Nice addition to the skyline.

Mr_7ups@reddit

Oh wow, it’s fucking awful and will be another eyesore. So glad they are coming here🙄

TheMcMcMcMcMc@reddit

What about second look?

TwilightGraphite@reddit

It's just sad how wasteful this all is. There's a perfectly good, beautiful, and large building there already. But, no. It must go so we can have something new. So much concrete, glass, and steel to go in the landfill. 🙄

You mean the building that's been empty for like 10 years?

TheRealXimena@reddit

Never seen so many people be upset about an influx of new job opportunities and development

wbd3434@reddit

The exact same people who work downtown will work in this office.

Well not exactly.... many more people will be attracted to work for them at the new location. Better housing market, lower crime, etc. They'll attract more people willing to relocate to Plano than Dallas.

Oh I’m sorry, I thought this was the Plano subreddit.

I’m talking about jobs and development in PLANO. Not the city an hour+ south (in traffic)

my_muffin_sparkles@reddit

You can't have billboards or free standing building signage that's high like a billboard (I didn't word that well, but hopefully it's understandable) in Plano, but ATT can have this ugly ass beacon of mediocrity??? Mmmmkay

It's a concept rendering, relax....

96Temp@reddit

I would rather not have to look at that fugly tower every day, thanks ATT.

It's better than looking at the vacant EDS building for the last 10 years...

Love_Vigilantes_586@reddit

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought that

Thin-Constant-4018@reddit

What in the dystopian monolith is that. Man we're really coming to the most boring dystopia possible

Extreme_Valuable_203@reddit

I feel sorry for the architects, engineers, and field crew that'll have to bring that blue shiny turd to life.

FutureSavings3588@reddit

Ugly modern slop.

Very

Confusedsoul2292@reddit

We don’t want this!!! 🫩

We definitely want more H1Bs!

flilmawinstone@reddit

How long after completion will they be laying people off ?

Samwoodstone@reddit

Great news. How about lower prices? They lowered the veterans discount.

Beautiful

Agitated_Body5781@reddit

Is this at the old EDS building ?

That is being demolished to ground.

Good, more fugly, brutalist, dystopian hellscape styling.

lowfiswish@reddit

Oh I can’t wait til a tornado sends that golfball on a tee across the metroplex.

thetokyofiles@reddit

At least there’s a pedestrian bridge in the first pic.

311voltures@reddit

Thanks I hate it, Lower the prices use existing Commercial Property, improve services or gtfo

madangelmak@reddit

Or improve the service.

CPLCraft@reddit

The second photo is pretty nice. The first photo is certainly … a choice. Is it gonna be some sort of Plano version of Reunion tower?

Lurcher99@reddit

DFW flight path restrictions may limit that

DarthJahona@reddit

The new Plano HQ is nowhere near DFW flight paths. All of the northern traffic is routed up near Denton. Now Dallas Love Field you could make a case, but that path is still south of DNT and Legacy. I thought maybe Addison, but looking at the charts all of those approaches push you out to the north northwest.

There is a note that the EDS building is labeled as a VFR checkpoint. So once the old building is gone they'll need to update the charts. Any tall building though they will just slap a beacon on top.

Good to know, not a aviation person.

dalcowboysstarsmavs@reddit

I bet the neighbors are going to love it.

Autias@reddit

That tower just looks goofy.

leaderjoe89@reddit

This will be one big data center and resident apartments. Anything else will not make the cut

Noobmode@reddit

So they selling the giant q-tip campus to Johnson & Johnson later?

New-Introduction1076@reddit

Awesome I’m so glad the billionaires can still afford shit

ohwhataday10@reddit

Employees that live in Plano & Frisco get a win!

Matchboxx@reddit

This looks obnoxious.

bdrp@reddit

Should fit in pretty well in Plano then

Pooja-church-7065@reddit

they should put some antennas in that tower so atleast we get good signals

eelynek@reddit

He said they would be

FelixMumuHex@reddit

AT&T is dogshit

No_Safety_6803@reddit

Creating a place that will help us attract and retain top talent – where employees are proud to work

Dude, that’s called home. Fairly ridiculous that a company that is promising to deliver the future of communications thinks it can only communicate in person.

Dawnzarelli@reddit

First line in his statement says it all. It IS actually about real estate. Take up as much as possible. Sit on it. $$$

Yes, and I’m willing to bet there are some well hidden side deals involving the surrounding property.

Salty-Juggernaut-208@reddit

Cant help but wonder if that's a Tesla energy tower with branded window dressing

nimbusthegreat@reddit

Does it show on their map where they are giving the CIA access to their trunk?

cwsharpless@reddit

Please tell me the first photo was just some higher-up goofing around with an AI picture generator and not a serious proposal.

neverpost4@reddit

Are they moving the Reunion Tower too?

inari_otaku@reddit

Get this ugly shrine to the rich out of my city.

curiouswizard@reddit

giant lit up tower with a giant lit up brand logo on top? 🤮 Could this design be any more disgusting

lpalf@reddit

Insanely ugly holy shit

one_is_enough@reddit

You posted this from your phone which is bouncing signals from a far uglier cell tower. Willing to have just another one of those? Or do you want to give up your phone and get rid of all cell towers?

what is wrong with you

So because we need some cell towers that means we have to add uglier, completely unnecessary towers? Are you stupid? lol