Dykema's newly renovated Dallas office. Courtesy photo

With its Dallas office "busting at the seams" and a lease ending, Dykema Gossett chose to expand and renovate its existing footprint in a downtown Dallas skyscraper, adding modern features such as communal shared space, a commercial kitchen, ergonomic furniture and updated technology. The firm considered moving to a new building or a different area of Dallas, but after discussion and evaluation for more than a year, office leaders ultimately decided to stay in Comerica Bank Tower after considering a renovation proposal from the landlord. "Frankly, we liked it. We liked the building, the area where we are," said Sean Buckley, a partner in Dallas who was on a committee focused on the office space. The firm signed a new 10-year lease in June 2023, and renovations on the 7,000-square-foot larger space were completed this month. Lawyers and staff continued to work in the office during the renovations, Dallas office administrator Windy Luna said. The firm has 55 lawyers in Dallas, but Luna said the new space can accommodate 15 more. Buckley said there was a lot of good space on the market in Dallas two years ago when the committee started looking at a new lease, as Am Law 200 firms moved into the Uptown area or into the Arts District. Committee members, including office management and administrators and some well-established partners, actually loaded onto a bus to travel one day to visit seven or eight properties in various areas of the city, he said. Making a decision about a new lease was "tough," Buckley said, because people had different opinions. "Should we move into The Crescent in Uptown, which is a phenomenal building? Should we take a turnkey space an Am Law 100 was getting rid of, or should we find other space and build it out?" he said. They evaluated the pros and cons of each option, he said. For instance, one nice space lacked enough restaurants within walking distance. Parking and access to public transportation were other factors they considered. The committee thought about the homeless population in downtown Dallas, Buckley said, but on the other hand, two new parks — Harwood Park and Pacific Plaza — are located just a couple blocks from Comerica Bank Tower, which is also close to Main Street Garden. The downtown area is attracting "a lot of fun and young energy," he said. Additionally, the Comerica Bank Tower is also updating with a new gym and additional hospitality space, he said. The renovated space reflects the changing work patterns of the post-pandemic era, Buckley said, with more flexible and communal space, and more Wi–Fi hotspots, because younger lawyers are accustomed to picking up their laptops and working in different locations instead of sitting in their office all day long. In addition to the communal shared space that Buckley said is more like a hotel lobby than an office, the two-floor space has internal floor-to-ceiling windows, "softer textures," a large space with an adjacent commercial kitchen, and updated technology in conference rooms. The firm unsurprisingly reduced the space dedicated to the library and files, but did keep two sizes of offices, only to avoid taking the space down to the studs. The furniture is more ergonomic and assistants now work at desks that raise and lower. Luna said people were most excited about the cafe and the work collaboration space, because it's "homey and inviting" and the large catering kitchen, because the firm holds many events in the office. "We are just starting to break it in," Luna said, adding that the updated common areas are in line with what works today, not 10 years ago. Dykema, an Am Law 200 firm based in Detroit, launched its Dallas office in 2007, and added Houston in 2022. Others Texas offices are in Austin, McAllen and San Antonio.