"This is the largest project developed speculatively in Dallassince the mid-1980s," Steve Platt, Wilcox president, tellsGlobeSt.com. It also represents the largest undertaking for thedevelopment group in its five-year history. "We're not necessarilytrying to do larger and larger projects, it's just that this tractof land lent itself to that kind of development," explainsPlatt.

The property is owned by BCK & Partners LP, a Germaninvestment group that bought the site in 1992, subsequentlyentering into a joint venture with Wilcox for its development. Theproject is being developed for the State Teachers Retirement Systemof Ohio. Bank of America is providing the financing for the twobuildings--one with 15-stories and 400,000 sf, the other with13-stories and 350,000 sf--that are being designed by HKSArchitects of Dallas. The structures will closely resemble theexisting 350,000-sf Chase International Plaza I, which has beenfully leased by the Global Services Group of Chase Manhattan Banksince its completion in 1999.

When completed in first quarter 2002, the three office towerswill represent an investment in excess of $200 million, says Platt.Wilcox has retained rights to name the new buildings to reflectlead tenants' identities, but each structure will carry the formaltitle of Chase International Plaza.