Courtesy City of Fort Worth
Rendering of the new Council Chamber wing.
After City Hall packed its bags and moved to the 20-story skyrise that once housed Pier 1 Imports, it was clear the space required a few finishing touches to align with the city’s vision. Now, construction is underway on enhancements and improvements to the city government’s current home. The end goal: create a one-stop shop for all city services, including development and permitting activities, water customer service, and more.
Essentially, Fort Worthians will no longer have to Google where a city service might be located — just head to City Hall.
In December 2020, the city purchased the Pier 1 Imports for $69.5 million, using a large chunk of its $180 million budget the city had set aside to consolidate 13 city buildings. The 20-story glass tower at 100 Energy Way sits on an 11.9-acre site and overlooks the Trinity River.
“While the purchase of an existing property was not part of the city’s original plan, purchasing this property provides a solution to the city’s real estate needs sooner without new construction and will result in savings for taxpayers for years to come,” city manager, David Cooke, says in a press release.
The Future City Hall project will include a welcoming workspace for public services and the community, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced technology and security for the building. The city looks to embrace “Shared Delight,” a concept of flexible hybrid floor plans that will accommodate double the occupants than previous tenants.
“This purchase is a more economical solution to meet the space needs of the 13th largest city, as well as allow for more city services to be in one convenient location for residents,” Cooke says.
The project is slated for completion in fall 2023, with final move-ins during the first quarter of 2024.
