AT&T Signs 186K SF Lease To Expand Richardson Call Center Amid National Effort To 'Streamline Operations'

Some AT&T employees in Richardson will soon have a slightly different commute.

The Dallas-based telecommunications company has announced plans to expand and relocate its call center across the street from the company’s existing campus on Lakeside Boulevard, the latest in a series of national call center real estate moves.

AT&T signed a 12-year lease with Provident Realty Advisors for approximately 186K SF across seven floors of the Lakeside Boulevard Tower at 2221 Lakeside Blvd. The company’s existing call center is located at its Lakeside Campus at 2270 Lakeside Blvd.

“We have a strong history in the city and this opportunity strategically aligns with our focus on creating modern workspaces where our employees can thrive, innovate and deliver solutions that connect people to greater possibility,” AT&T Head of Global Real Estate Michael Ford said in a statement.

AT&T's Metroplex expansion announcement comes the same week news broke that it is looking for office space to accommodate a large call center in Atlanta's Central Perimeter submarket after expanding its local office presence last year. 

It also follows the telecommunication giant's announcement earlier this month that it would close its Pueblo, Colorado, call center this summer.

Susie McAllister, vice president of the Communications Workers of America District 7, told The Pueblo Chieftain that less than half of the 83 AT&T employees represented by the union would be offered work-from-home positions. The rest were expected to get offers for jobs that need to be performed in person in either Texas or California.

AT&T called the Pueblo closure part of “a broader effort to streamline operations, adapt to changing business needs, and better serve customers,” according to a statement provided to NBC station KOAA. 

An AT&T spokesperson wouldn't say whether the DFW expansion was part of that broader effort but noted more specifics about the Richardson project are expected to be shared as it progresses.

To support $15.8M in building improvements at AT&T's new location, the city of Richardson awarded Provident a building modernization grant and permit fee waivers.

The city got involved as the project fit with Richardson’s economic development strategy for revitalizing its commercial office sector, according to City Manager Don Magner. 

“These initiatives are essential to keeping Richardson competitive and thriving as a destination for corporate investment,” Magner said in a statement.

Provident acquired the 807K SF Lakeside Campus office complex from Trigild in November. The campus is anchored by RealPage and was originally built for Nortel. 

AT&T has also made big real estate moves elsewhere, selling 74 office buildings for more than $850M in January.

At the time of the transaction, AT&T said the more than 13M SF of office space was being underutilized. New York-based Reign Capital purchased the properties in locations such as South Florida and Washington, D.C., through sale-leaseback agreements with AT&T.