Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announces its upcoming relocation of the Firm's Dallas office to Crescent Real Estate Holdings LLC's planned McKinney & Olive building, located in Uptown next to the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Gardere's approximately 109,000 square foot lease will kick-start the development at 2021 McKinney Avenue. Gardere will move into the new building in the Fall of 2016.
"We are thrilled to be moving into vibrant and premiere office space," says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. "Our move to McKinney & Olive emphasizes our commitment to investing in the future, while at the same time focusing on the evolving needs of our clients, our lawyers and staff. McKinney & Olive is innovative. It will provide us with increased efficiencies and growth opportunities, along with the added conveniences and amenities of the Uptown area. We are confident that our new home will be an Uptown landmark and will assist us in attracting and retaining clients and talented personnel. It will be the place to be."
McKinney & Olive is designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, which is led by world-renowned Argentine architect César Pelli. Mr. Pelli is known for designing some of the world's most architecturally compelling urban landmarks, including the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia and the World Financial Center complex in lower Manhattan.
The 20-story McKinney & Olive building is being built as a LEED Gold Certified, Class AAA structure. The one-of-a-kind tower will be the tallest building in Uptown when completed. In addition to 480,000 square feet of luxury office space, the building will feature 50,000 square feet of retail space, including three restaurants, a ground-level piazza, a fitness center, a Concierge Level rooftop garden and a conference center. Its state-of-the-art design played an integral role in Gardere's decision to choose McKinney & Olive.
"Crescent Real Estate Holdings is widely known in the market as being a premier owner and operator of office buildings," says Kevin L. Kelley, the head of Gardere’s Real Estate Practice Group and chair of the Firm's Space Planning Committee, who spearheaded the lease negotiations. "This, combined with the building's location, iconic design and mixed-use features, create the ideal location for our law firm – a place where talented people will want to work and clients will want to visit."
Gardere finalized the 15-year lease with Crescent Real Estate Holdings and is set to occupy floors 9 through 12 of the new building by late 2016, with highly visible signage on the building. This move coincides with the expiration of the Firm’s 26-year lease at Thanksgiving Tower. Gardere was represented by Jeff Ellerman and Phil Puckett of CBRE.