Steve Brown, Real Estate Editor
A Dallas laws firm is trading its Uptown offices for new digs in the downtown Arts District.
Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP has rented the top two floors of the KPMG Plaza tower on Ross Avenue near Pearl Street.
The office lease takes the building in the Hall Arts complex to 93 percent leased.
Bell Nunnally is moving its operations from McKinney Avenue at Hall Street in Uptown.
“After experiencing tremendous growth in all facets of the firm during our 30 years in Uptown Dallas, we decided to move to the prestigious Dallas Arts District,” managing partner Jim Skochdopole said in a statement. “The new location will help us better serve our clients and continue to attract and retain top legal talent.”
Bell Nunnally will join KPMG, Jackson Walker LLP, UMB Bank, SpencerStuart and Serendipity Labs as major tenants in the high-rise which was built by Hall Group.
Architect Gensler is designing the legal firm’s new office and Scott + Reid is the general contractor.
“After a full evaluation of the downtown and uptown market, Bell Nunnally negotiated a strategic long-term transaction for the top two floors at Hall Arts with 12 foot high ceilings and expansive views,” CBRE’s Jeff Ellerman said in a statement. “It will be an inspiring space for them to practice law for many years to come.”
Jeff and John Ellerman with CBRE negotiated the new lease with Kim Vincent Butler with Hall Group.
The 500,000-square-foot office tower is next door to where Hall Group is building the new Hall Arts Hotel and Residences high-rise between Ross and Flora Street.