City leaders in Dallas are inviting public input and professional proposals to shape the future of the downtown City Hall complex, including the surrounding government center and 20–30 acres near the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The initiative is part of a broader effort to decide whether to renovate the aging I.M. Pei-designed City Hall or pursue a full redevelopment.
Submissions for the “call for concepts” open Monday on the city’s website and will run through May 3, accompanied by a public survey conducted via ZenCity over six weeks. The city is seeking ideas for both adaptive reuse of the current building and redevelopment of the larger site.
Separately, officials are exploring relocating critical operations, including 911 and 311 emergency services. Top public safety officials will collaborate with emergency communications experts, and real estate adviser CBRE will help identify potential sites for City Hall functions that could be moved or consolidated. Council members may tour other municipal buildings, including Fort Worth’s relocated City Hall, to inform their decisions.
The city will also commission an independent consultant to develop a 10-year repair program for City Hall, testing whether deferred maintenance can be managed or if long-term costs will continue to escalate. Past estimates have suggested roughly $329 million in near-term repairs and over $1 billion for full modernization over 20 years.
Council remains divided: supporters of keeping City Hall cite its architectural significance and civic identity, while proponents of moving see an opportunity for redevelopment, including potential commercial or entertainment uses. No final decision has been made, and the process is intended to provide clearer options for the future of the site.