Green & McElreath signed a long-term lease in the 32-story structure to drive a relocation from the nearby Bank of America building. The firm is planning a July 1 move-in, Michelle Ellis-Felder with Transwestern Commercial Services' Houston office tells GlobeSt.com. The accounting firm was represented in the negotiations by Tommy Alexander in CB Richard Ellis Inc.'s Houston office.

SouthTrust Bank, also headed to the Neils Esperson Building, took 4,707 sf on the first floor and 318 sf of ATM retail space in the building's tunnel. Randy Mason of the Houston office of Collier's International represented SouthTrust in the negotiations for the long-term lease to kick off a new location in June. Mason says the banking firm plans to open "quite a few" new branches this year. He says SouthTrust Bank execs reviewed several other downtown options, but liked the location of the ATM space in the downtown tunnel system as well as the historical aspect of the class B office building.

Ellis-Felder and Debbie MacDonald, also with Transwestern Commercial Services, represented the building owner, Esperson Building LP and DT Esperson I LP in the lease talks. The advertised rate ranges from $16.50 per sf to $17.50 per sf.