Drew Morris, a Savills branch manager and executive vice president, was one of Houston's most active brokers in 2020 and was selected to spearhead leasing operations for the city's long-awaited innovation hub, The Ion. This past year, Morris, who joined Savills in 2003, executed transactions in excess of $35 million, including a $2.5 million building sale, and represented clients in leasing approximately 230,000 square feet.

Morris scored a major win by being designated as head of leasing operations for The Ion, a former Sears store that is being redeveloped into a 300,000-square-foot collaboration center. Set to open in spring 2021, The Ion is part of 16 acres of Midtown commercial real estate space being redeveloped by Rice University into an innovation district. It's the first of its kind for the market and Morris, working alongside Rice Management Company, used strategic marketing and creativity to position the center as the premier destination for businesses and innovators to grow and collaborate in Houston. A number of high-profile tenants joined the center, proving that corporate citizens want to be a part of the innovation district. Chevron signed a lease for a third-floor space and joined The Ion as a program partner. Additionally, Microsoft leased space on the fifth floor.

Morris also played a leading role in additional significant transactions that occurred in Houston. He negotiated a 37,000-square-foot lease renewal for IDS Engineering Group and represented Nations Reliable Lending in a 20,000-square-foot expansion. The firm now leases a total of 40,000 square feet.

Throughout 2020 Morris partnered with clients to restructure their objectives and goals to determine how they want to work in the future. He tapped into the evolution how clients need and use space, which is now much more focused on collaboration and creating an experience in the office. He is currently working closely with clients on finding spaces that draw people to the office and allow them to be safely productive.