Kenneth M. Krasnow, regional managing director of Cushman & Wakefield of Connecticut Inc. says, "A significant trend from year 2000 is the growing length and size of leases as compared to 1999. This means that more companies are committing serious capital to the region." He continues, "Overall in the year 2000, we've seen a maturation of the office market in Westchester and Fairfield Counties; companies are experiencing strong growth, resulting in larger and longer leases, and numerous expansion deals."

C&W officials say that its top 50 list included leases from industries such as: food and beverage, charity, consultancy, entertainment, financial services, health care, hotels, insurance, law, media, office products, paper, plastics, reinsurance, technology, telecommunications and utilities. While in 1999 about 30% of leases signed in the region were by financial services firms, in 2000 that industry produced only 10% of the top deals.

The list did show an increase of technology-related lease deals, specifically in terms of telecommunications companies. "The increase in the number of leases signed in the telecommunications industry bodes particularly well for the area," Krasnow says. "At this time, high-speed communications capabilities are in greater demand than the development of other technological advances."