Part of the 75-member staff has moved into the 65,000-sfbuilding at 5339 Alpha Rd., bought in an early-summer, off-markettransaction with an investment group from Emeryville, CA. The restof the team is coming in mid-October, relocating from two nearbyHumphreys-owned buildings totaling 10,000 sf, the well-knownarchitect tells GlobeSt.com. He says the plan is to take thebalance of the fourth floor, bumping its total to 16,000 sf or 35%of the structure.

With the relocation plan in place, Humphreys, the firm's CEO,has turned his attention toward gleaning more value from the prizedland. "I just think there's demand for hotel in the Galleria area,"he says, adding he's crafting the design and looking for a jointventure partner.

Humphreys was in the market at least year in search of an officebuilding investment to double as its headquarters. Grubb &Ellis senior vice president Thomas Clarke says he knew theCalifornia investors "would sell if they got the right price." Thegoing rate is $80 per sf for comparable office product in theGalleria neighborhood.