DALLAS-A 200,000-sf lease, valued at $35 million, is the strongest sign yet that Dallas CBD revitalization efforts are taking root. With the 12-year signing comes the first renaming of a downtown high-rise since 1993, says Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co. whose team brokered this year's landmark deal.

The 34-story, 825,000-sf Maxus Energy Tower at 717 N. Harwood will be the new home for KPMG Consulting Inc.'s Dallas team, which now is split between the Crescent in Uptown and Brookriver Center near Love Field. KPMG is planning a December 2002 move-in, coming one month after the Crescent lease expires. The Brookriver team will relocate in March 2003.

The signing undoubtedly is the largest office lease to come down the pike this year. And, Trammell Crow is all smiles since it's filling all of the space–and then some–that came with this summer's retreat by Maxus Energy to Houston and San Antonio. The energy firm was the lead tenant since the tower opened in 1980.