Tony Click, vice president of leasing for owner Crescent RealEstate Equities Co., says the deals were kept under wraps until thelast one was inked. The back-to-back deals raise occupancy to 95%,with move-ins set to begin by month's end and wrap up in March2005. By and large, move-ins coincide with lease expirations atother top-line assets in the city. For nearly two years, thebuilding's quoted rent, $32 per sf to $36 per sf, has heldfirm.

Lehman Brothers Inc. took the largest block, 15,754 sf, and willbe the first in the door. Click says the keys turn Oct. 29 tothree-fourths of the fourth floor in the 200 Building. Lehman,vacating Chase Tower in the CBD, is merging a group with NeubergerBerman Management Inc., which has been a longtime tenant in 5,800sf on the building's 13th floor. Before the shuffle can take place,an existing tenant already has committed to backfilling the space,Click says.

By year's end, Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.will take over 11,939 sf on the 13th floor of the 300 Building,returning after a four-year hiatus from the trophy complex. Theinbound group has been carved from teams at San Jacinto Tower andthe Galleria and new hires, including catches from Credit SuisseFirst Boston, for a specialty practice aimed at high-net worthaccounts, according to Click, who says the lease has been undernegotiation for six months.