A major piece of AT&T’s future Plano headquarters is beginning to take shape, and it may soon alter the city’s skyline in the process.
On May 4, Plano’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved proposals tied to the telecommunications giant’s planned campus at 5400 Legacy Drive.
At the center of the development is a 280-foot tower topped with AT&T’s globe logo, designed to function as both a visual landmark and a working communications structure.
A New Marker On The Legacy Corridor
Early renderings shared by AT&T CEO John Stankey offered the first public glimpse at the tower, which had largely remained behind the scenes as planning moved forward.
“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,” said Stankey. “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.”
While the structure is expected to become a recognizable feature along Legacy Drive, it also serves a practical purpose. Under the zoning request, antennas would be fully concealed inside the tower, allowing it to operate as what planners describe as a stealth antenna support structure.
The proposal includes limits on overnight lighting as well. According to city documents, the tower would not use strobing, flashing, rotating or chasing light effects between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
A Campus Designed To Consolidate Operations
The tower would rise from a planned 0.76-acre public plaza positioned at the northwest corner of the larger 54.2-acre development. Plans call for enhanced landscaping, pedestrian gathering areas and open public space woven into the campus design.
Photo: AT&T
AT&T first announced in January that it intended to establish its global headquarters in Plano, relocating key operations to the Legacy business corridor near Parkwood Boulevard and Legacy Drive.
In a message to employees earlier this year, Stankey described the move as part of a broader effort to bring together teams currently spread across Dallas, Plano and Irving. Once complete, the new campus is expected to centralize major company functions and house thousands of workers.
Plano Bets Big On The Project
The city has already committed significant support to help secure the development. In February, Plano City Council approved a performance-based incentive package valued at more than $20 million.
The agreement ties incentives to redevelopment milestones, hiring targets and long-term capital investment. City leaders estimate the project could ultimately bring as many as 10,000 jobs into the area, further cementing Legacy’s role as one of North Texas’ largest corporate hubs.
For Plano, the project represents more than a headquarters relocation. It is a signal that the Legacy corridor continues evolving from a suburban office district into a destination shaped by large-scale corporate investment, public gathering spaces and increasingly recognizable architecture.
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