The Dallas city government has voted to explore relocating and selling the brutalist city hall designed by renowned architect IM Pei, placing the iconic 1970s building under increased threat of demolition. Earlier this month, Dallas City Council voted to review the status of the distinctive concrete structure as the government's headquarters, with plans to report findings in February next year.
The city manager has been tasked with determining the costs of relocating city hall operations, as well as calculating repair expenses for the aging building and exploring the economic opportunities of developing the valuable downtown site. This decision follows news published in mid-October that the building was under threat, which came as a "big surprise" to the architecture community, according to conservation group Docomomo US.
The preservation organization has raised serious concerns about the building's future and the rapid pace at which demolition plans are developing. "The future of the Dallas City Hall remains uncertain as Dallas City Council members discuss options for its future," Docomomo US stated after the latest vote. "The focus seems to be on maximum economic development of the site rather than keeping city hall."
The organization continued to express frustration with the city's process, asking, "Many concerns of the public have gone unanswered by the city. Why is the process moving so fast and where is the public involvement in this process?" The building's central location in downtown Dallas, sitting in front of an expansive plaza, makes the site particularly valuable for potential development.
Designed by IM Pei in 1978, Dallas City Hall is an architectural landmark that takes the distinctive form of an inverted pyramid. The concrete building features seven stories, with each floor growing approximately nine feet wider (2.7 meters) as it ascends, creating its unique and recognizable silhouette that has defined the city's skyline for decades.
Multiple preservation organizations have joined forces to save the building, including AIA Dallas, Preservation Dallas, Preservation Texas, and the North Texas chapter of Docomomo. Following the initial demolition threat, activists launched a petition "to save Dallas City Hall," which has garnered 4,600 signatures at the time of reporting, demonstrating significant public support for preservation.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who works in the building daily, has acknowledged its deteriorating condition and defended the city's exploration of alternatives. "The building has some serious issues, and if those numbers are correct, that's something we really have to think about," Johnson told CBS News. "We can't just take off the table the possibility of moving from City Hall because a famous architect designed the building."
The mayor has cited the building's chronic flooding issues and estimated that necessary repairs would cost up to $600 million over the next decade, though other reports suggest a lower figure of $350 million. The aging structure faces multiple infrastructure problems, including a faulty air conditioning system, leaky plumbing, and HVAC system failures that have plagued operations for years.
Additionally, the building is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), presenting accessibility challenges that would require significant modifications to address. According to local news organization Axios Dallas, city offices would relocate to existing high-rise towers in downtown Dallas if the Pei-designed building is removed or sold.
The controversy surrounding Dallas City Hall reflects a broader national debate about preserving brutalist architecture from the 1960s and 1970s. Several similar projects throughout the United States have faced preservation battles in recent years, including an "unusual" fountain in San Francisco and a Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper. Boston successfully renovated its brutalist City Hall in 2019 following a similar preservation debate.
The outcome of Dallas's decision will be closely watched by the architecture and preservation communities nationwide, as it could set a precedent for how cities balance economic development pressures against preserving significant architectural heritage. The city council's final decision, expected after receiving the city manager's comprehensive report in February, will determine whether this iconic example of 20th-century architecture survives or becomes another casualty of urban development.
