HOUSTON-FMA Alliance Ltd. has relocated its corporate headquarters to a 31,500-square-foot build-to-suit building in Cutten Road Business Park. The debt collection firm signed a 10.5 year lease for single-story property developed by Clay Development Co.

By moving to a new facility, FMA Alliance was able to reduce its occupancy costs significantly since it previously occupied 42,000 square feet in an atrium-style building at 11811 N. Freeway.

“They were able to increase their efficiencies with the new building and eliminate duplicated space like multiple breakrooms by being in a single-story building,” says Trace Elrod, a vice president with Jackson Cooksey’s Dallas office. “Even though the space is smaller, they were able to increase [the number of people in the space].”

Elrod tells GlobeSt. FMA Alliance had been a tenant in its current building for more than 26 years. “They were paying for 20% more space than they needed,” he explains.

The company looked at a variety of facilities, from multi-tenant buildings to vacant big boxes. “We considered all options, but the one that worked best was the build-to-suit,” Elrod says.

The new facility, located at 12339 Cutten Rd., will house more than 200 employees, spread over multiple shifts. The tilt-wall building has an elevated slab and backup power to minimize downtime during bad weather such as hurricanes. It features an open-concept design with plenty of ambient light, Elrod notes.