Scott Nishimura
Pier 1 building
Some buildings have soul — they wear their history like a favorite leather jacket, scarred but undeniably stylish. Fort Worth’s New City Hall is one of those relics turned renaissance icons. Once the corporate playground of Pier 1 Imports — a retail titan of scented candles and globally inspired décor — this 450,000-square-foot, 20-story tower has reinvented itself into the modern home of the city’s government. It’s a transformation as unexpected and delightful as discovering a long-lost track on your favorite record.
For 135 years, City Hall had been rooted in the familiar neighborhoods around Throckmorton and Ninth Streets. Now, with the U-Hauls finally returned and the move complete, a new chapter unfolds. A fresh backdrop of endless windows and natural light beckons from every corner. Built with an eye for design — thanks in part to the visionary Mr. Edward Durrell Stone — the building now stands as a monument to modernization, and reuse.
Step inside the council chamber, and you’ll notice the kind of natural light that promises you’ll never nod off mid-meeting. If a tornado dares to roll down West Seventh Street, you’ll spot it well in advance from this panoramic perch. Out the west window, the river, Will Rogers’ tower, and Dickies Arena set a dynamic scene; to the north, the storied Paddock Viaduct — dating back to 1914 — and downtown’s skyline reminds you that history and progress can share a breathtaking view.
Fort Worth Magazine
The ribbon cutting: from left, former City Manager David Cooke, former Mayor Betsy Price, City Councilmembers Jared Williams, Chris Nettles, Gyna Bivens, City Manager Jay Chapa, Mayor Mattie Parker, City Councilmembers Elizabeth Beck, Macy Hill, Alan Blaylock, Jeanette Martinez, Carlos Flores, Michael Crain, and Charlie Lauersdorf.
During last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mayor Mattie Parker couldn’t help but quip, “I was joking earlier today. Many of you know some of these meetings are very contentious. Maybe they’ll be a little nicer with the natural light.”
The building’s journey began in 2004 when Pier 1 Imports unveiled what was meant to be a bold statement in corporate design — a glassy beacon along the Trinity River that married striking modernity with the subtle poetry of its surroundings. “Marvin picked out each piece of marble, each piece of wood,” recalled Merianne Roth, who back then helmed public relations at Pier 1 and now holds the title of vice chancellor of marketing and communications at TCU.
“He was very involved in every decision. He wanted to invest in a beautiful place where employees loved coming to work — a place that would be part of Fort Worth’s legacy. It’s a work of art, from the materials chosen to the way the building was positioned to honor both the city and the river.”
Of course, no great story is without its quirks. There’s the legendary rumor of the building’s “M” shape — a playful nod to Marvin Girouard that he never confirmed but always enjoyed. And then there’s the street outside: once known as Pier 1 Place, it was humorously suggested by Girouard to be rechristened “Tornado Alley” after the notorious 2000 tornado swept through downtown. Even more serendipitous? The same 10th floor that once hummed with the energy of Pier 1’s communications team now buzzes with the voices of the City of Fort Worth’s own media crew.
But the road to reinvention wasn’t without its bumps. When Pier 1 hit financial turbulence, the building changed hands — first becoming Chesapeake Plaza under Chesapeake Energy in 2008, then passing on again in 2014. It could have ended up as just another vacant monument to corporate excess. Instead, in early 2021, Fort Worth recognized its potential. Buying the building from Hertz Investment Group for an appraised $71 million — a bargain compared to the $200 million it would have cost to build new — the city consolidated employees from 12 different locations and set about giving the structure a fresh lease on life.
The first City Council meeting in this transformed space took place last week on March 25, marking the beginning of what many see as a triumphant encore for a building that’s seen it all. “This building is more than a structure,” Mayor Parker said. “It truly is a space for the people of Fort Worth. There are tough decisions ahead, but this is where we come together to do the right thing.”
Before its reinvention as City Hall, the building had already amassed a slew of design awards — from the American Society of Landscape Architects to the International Association of Lighting Designers — proving it wasn’t just a pretty face. And if you need a moment to absorb it all, just step outside. Across the river, Trinity Park — Fort Worth’s first-ever park — offers a quiet reminder that some landmarks are meant to endure, even as the city transforms around them.
