The Metroplex is an area of North Central Texas comprised of three large cities (Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas), a few smaller cities and roughly 60 or so suburban towns. It is also home to industry and business icons like of Bell Helicopter, Lockeheed, American Airlines, the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, RadioShack, Dr Pepper and Best Maid Pickles (to name just a few).
Pier 1 Imports used to be a fairly important business player and the headquarters that they built in downtown Fort Worth reflected this. A “tri-unit” tower of several stories, the building was crowned by a roof emitting a beacon of light into the night sky.
In 2008 Pier 1 sold the building to Chesapeake Energy (for a reported $104 million). Then in January of 2021, the City of Fort Worth closed on its deal to purchase the building for a new city hall.
The groundbreaking took place in September of 2022. Construction for the re-imagined City Hall began in June of 2023. The project is slated for completion with final move-ins by the third quarter of 2024, which will consolidate the staff and functions of 13 other downtown City buildings.
Throughout changes of ownership the roof-top beacon has remained constant. The impressive illumination was expanded to an unusual display of lighted trees at Christmastime.
In 2011, when then owner, Chesapeake Energy, extended the life of the Christmas lighting beyond December, I captured a few photographs. Those photographs are available for viewing through the images of this gallery.
You can start with the first image and view the others one after another. Or click any photograph to view the image, photography data and associated narrative.
On the page for each photograph you can click on the image and open a separate web page enlargement. And once you’re viewing a web page enlargement, you have the option of viewing the gallery's previous or next web page enlargement.
