Baylor started shopping the Downtown market in November 2005 byexercising a termination option in its 187,998-sf lease at 2001Bryan St. to get extra room so it could free up space on its maincampus to expand clinical patient-care services, Steve Zimmerman,principal with locally based Trammell Crow Co., tells GlobeSt.com.Baylor jumpstarted the search with four years left on its term. Atthe end of the day, Baylor added 37,509 sf and pushed the termuntil August 2020.

"There were two or three that were very competitive," Zimmermansays. "By the time we zeroed in on Bryan Tower, we got a deal donevery quickly. It was competitive to the very end." Among theoptions were the under-construction One Arts Plaza, a BillingsleyCo. project in the Arts District, and Victory Plaza, an equallyhigh-profile project that Hillwood is developing on theUptown-Downtown demarcation line. In all, he says eight buildingscould have accommodated the size requirement, but only four madethe short list for tours.

The 1.1-million-sf Bryan Tower's space, teetering on the classA-B line, is quoted at $21 per sf plus electric. Though the settledrate is off limits, Zimmerman acknowledged "it was a competitiverate" that convinced the healthcare giant to stay in place.