But, Coelho continues, the lure of the suburbs also is rooted in the design of the structures. The buildings are ready-made with high-tech necessities, no longer amenities, which are part of everyday business. To upgrade a CBD high-rise to smart-building status is practically cost prohibitive.

The suburbs are reigning victorious in Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Austin, as well. TrainUtopia's founder just last week put out a press release about a relocation from Austin City Limits to Georgetown, along Interstate 35 and north of the state capital proper, and she openly cited rising rent as the cause. More space for the same amount of money and her employees are closer to their homes, she matter-of-factly told GlobeSt.com.

Jeff Turner, senior vice president of Duke-Weeks Realty Corp., says there's no doubt that the suburbs are the big time winners in the tenant race. Duke-Weeks' Dallas-Ft. Worth holdings are all positioned in suburban markets. The price is right, the commute is tolerable and there's more to do after the office door is locked. The CBDs are "doing a good job of trying to revitalize," says Turner, but the shortcoming is the absence of attraction after the workday ends. He doesn't foresee Dallas ever becoming a 24-hour CBD like New York City, but "at least 12 or 16 hours a day" might be the adrenalin shot that's needed.