Law Firm Boosts Total to 69,717 SF in BoA Center

The sublease from Dewey Ballantine LLP is Connelly, Baker's second transaction within the past year, bringing its total occupancy to 69,917 sf in the 1.5-million-sf high rise at 700 Louisiana St. in the CBD. The environmental law firm's sublease will expire in April 2008, with a direct lease immediately kicking into effect and running co-terminus with its other direct leases, Kevin Hodges with Studley in Houston, tells GlobeSt.com.

As part of the sublease, the law firms swapped 9,985 sf. "We had about 10,000 sf on the 20th floor and wanted 30,000 sf on the 19th floor so we traded positions with Dewey Ballantine and said 'you take our 10,000 sf,'" Hodges says. Connelly, Baker moved into the Bank of America Center in October 2001, starting out with about 5,000 sf and steadily adding space as it grew. In June 2005, the firm added 13,560 sf, taking the total to 49,109 sf.

Hodges tells GlobeSt.com that Connelly, Baker had no desire to relocate and was happy at the Bank of America Center so expansion rather than relocation was a natural choice. "The space they just took on was already improved and needed no renovation dollars," the tenant rep says. "It was in fantastic condition."

Ronnie Deyo and Don King with the Staubach Co.'s Houston office represented Dewey Ballantine. While the lease value isn't being released, area sources report class A space in the CBD is $22.19 per sf.