From Pier 1 to City Hall: An iconic building's second act

March 11, 2024, was the date all of us at the City of Fort Worth had been waiting for. Move-in day to our new digs was here! The first group of employees relocated from Old City Hall (200 Texas St.) to New City Hall (100 Fort Worth Trail). Moves were carefully staged and orchestrated — occupying a high-rise doesn’t happen overnight — throughout the next year.

After purchasing the former Pier 1 corporate campus in January 2021, we officially raised the City flag at the front entrance and called it our new home two years ago this week.

The story starts to take shape

Built in 2004, the sleek, glass-clad skyscraper had been on the market for some time following the departure of its namesake tenant. Hit hard by less pricey competitors like Amazon and Target, the retail giant hit a snag not long after moving in. The building had even been named Chesapeake Plaza for a beat after Pier 1 sold it to Chesapeake Energy and leased back the space.

Meanwhile, the City of Fort Worth was quickly outgrowing its 100 Texas St. headquarters. The three-level structure was cramped for staff and, with its outdated amenities and lack of free parking, not exactly welcoming for visitors. The cost to repair, revamp and remodel would have been much more than anyone wanted. The price tag for a new build at a nearby location also was steep.

Just when it seemed that a solution was not forthcoming, the story arc changed. City leadership saw a 20-story opportunity right in their own backyard.

A new chapter begins

Now that we’ve been here a year, we thought it would be fun to mark the occasion. First things first, the structure. It’s beautiful, inside and out. Offering spectacular views from every interior vantage point, the windows gleam by day and glow by night. Even though the décor doesn’t include overstuffed pillows and papasan chairs (shout-out to the heyday of Pier 1!), the building’s great bones are still the same. Materials like marble, granite, glass and wood — all sourced internationally and personally handpicked by Pier 1’s longtime CEO Marvin Girouard — are just as stunning as they were back in 2004.

Besides the aesthetics and the riverfront setting, what we also love is seeing residents arrive here for the first time. Because our new home is also their new home. If you haven’t visited yet, come on over! The lobby itself is something out of a magazine, understated, elegant and (above all else) welcoming.

Then grab an elevator up to the fifth floor, a one-stop customer service hub dedicated to helping our residents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Want to open a water account or pay your water bill? Need to check on or apply for a building permit? Floor five is where it’s at!

Before you head out, feel free to stroll the grounds, which are dotted with grass, trees and a walking path that encircles the property. Trinity Park and the river are right across from us on Forest Park Boulevard, a scenic naturescape that adds even more oomph.

If you hadn’t noticed, we love our new home and all its character traits.

Come out and see us! We hope you love it too.

To learn more about New City Hall and its former owner Pier 1 Imports, read the story we published last March.

For some fun facts, including why certain floors are missing from the building, check out part two of that story.

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