EXHIBIT 10.16(a)


                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT (this "First Amendment") is entered
into  this  ______  day  of  _____________,  1999,  by  and  between  AMLI  LAND
DEVELOPMENT - I LIMITED  PARTNERSHIP,  an Illinois  limited  partnership,  whose
address is in care of AMLI  REALTY  CO.,  1945 Vaughn  Road,  Kennesaw,  Georgia
30144,  (together with its successors and assigns "Amli") and CRYOLIFE,  INC., a
Florida corporation,  whose address is 1655 Roberts Boulevard, Kennesaw, Georgia
30144 (together with its permitted assigns "Tenant").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

     WHEREAS, Amli and Tenant entered into that certain Lease Agreement dated as
of April 14,  1995,  ("Lease")  dealing  with and  surrounding  the leasing of a
certain building and other  improvements and appurtenances  thereto as described
in the Lease ("Cryolife Phase I");

     WHEREAS,  Amli has agreed to the  construction  of an additional  two-story
office/R&D/warehouse/light  manufacturing  building and other  improvements  and
appurtenances,  including  an  interconnection  between  Cryolife  Phase  I  and
Cryolife  Phase II (as  that  term is  hereinafter  defined)  thereby  adjoining
Cryolife Phase I and Cryolife Phase II;

     WHEREAS,  for the purposes herein, the new additional  two-story office/R&D
building,  other improvements and appurtenances,  including the interconnection,
shall hereinafter be referred to as "Cryolife Phase II".

     WHEREAS,  Amli and  Cryolife  desire to enter into this First  Amendment to
amend the Lease.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of TEN and NO/100 ($10.00) DOLLARS,  the
premises, and other good and valuable consideration and the mutual benefits that
will be derived by the parties hereto, Amli and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

                           The recitals  hereinabove set forth are  incorporated
                  herein by reference as if totally set forth herein.
                           The Cryolife  Phase II shall be and is hereby covered
                  and governed by the Lease as hereinafter amended.
                           The  Lease  is  hereby  amended  whereby  any and all
                  references to the Pre-Occupancy and Construction  Agreement in
                  the Lease shall only refer to and apply to Cryolife Phase II.
                           The  Lease  is  hereby  amended  whereby  any and all
                  reference  to the address of Amli shall mean 1945 Vaughn Road,
                  Kennesaw,  Georgia  30144,  and any and all  reference  to the
                  address  of the  Tenant  shall  mean 1655  Roberts  Boulevard,
                  Kennesaw, Georgia 30144.

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1215727v1


                           The Lease is further hereby amended as follows:

     1.   In Paragraph 1, styled Architect, on Page 1 strike "Masterson,  Fowler
          Associates,  Ltd." and  substitute  in lieu  therefor:  "An  architect
          selected  by  Tenant  ("Tenant  Architect"),   subject  to  Landlord's
          reasonable  approval,  and an  architect  selected by  Landlord,  i.e.
          Fowler & Associates,  Inc. The Tenant Architect and Landlord Architect
          shall  cooperate  and work in  conjunction  with  each  other in their
          respective  designs  and  preparations  of the  respective  plans  and
          specifications ".

     2.   In  Paragraph  1, styled  Gross  Building  Area,  on Page 3, is hereby
          deleted in its entirety and the following substitute in lieu therefor:

                    "Gross  Building  Area:  The entire area within the exterior
               base walls on each floor of Cryolife  Phase I.  Unless  otherwise
               expressly stated to the contrary,  all reference in this Lease in
               "square  feet" shall mean the square  feet of the Gross  Building
               Area of Cryolife  Phase I and  Cryolife  Phase II.  Landlord  and
               Tenant  hereby  agree that the Gross  Building  Area of  Cryolife
               Phase I, as shown on the Plans,  is 98,268 sq. ft, and such total
               shall be deemed to Gross  Building  Area of Cryolife  Phase I for
               all purposes under this Lease.

                    The Landlord and Tenant hereby agree that the Gross Building
               Area of  Cryolife  Phase  II,  as shown on the  Plans,  is 98,268
               sq.ft.  (plus an area to be determined  and agreed to by Landlord
               and Tenant for the  interconnection  between Cryolife Phase I and
               Cryolife  Phase  II once the  plans  and  specifications  for the
               interconnection  are  agreed  to and  approved  by  Landlord  and
               Tenant) and such total shall be deemed the Gross Building Area of
               Cryolife Phase II for all purposes under this Lease."

     3.   In  Paragraph  1,  styled  Land,  on Page 4, is hereby  deleted in its
          entirety and the following substitute in lieu therefor:

               "Land:  An  approximately  eleven (11) acre parcel of real estate
               located in the Park, and legally  described in Exhibit A attached
               hereto  and  made  a  part  hereof   ("Cryolife   Phase  I").  An
               approximately  nine and one-half (9.5) acre parcel of real estate
               located  in the  Park,  and  legally  described  in  Exhibit  A-1
               attached hereto and made a part hereof ("Cryolife Phase II")".

     a.   In  Paragraph  1,  styled,  Net  Rentable  Area,  on Page 5, is hereby
          deleted in its entirety and substitute in lieu therefor the following:

               "Net Rentable  Area: The Gross Building Area of Cryolife Phase I,
               less the area of the vertical  penetrations for the elevators and
               any designated stairwells within the perimeter of the Facility of
               Cryolife  Phase I (e.g.  there  being two (2)  stairwells  in the
               initial Facility of Cryolife Phase I). Landlord and Tenant hereby
               agree  that the Net  Rentable  Area of the  initial  Facility  of
               Cryolife Phase I, as shown on the Plans, is Ninety-Five  Thousand
               Two Hundred Ten  (95,210)  sq. ft. and such total shall be deemed
               the net rentable area of the Facility of Cryolife Phase I for all
               purposes under this Lease.

                                       2


                    Landlord and Tenant  hereby agree that the Net Rentable Area
               of  Cryolife  Phase II,  as shown on the  Plans,  is  Ninety-Five
               Thousand Two Hundred Ten  (95,210)  sq.ft and such total shall be
               deemed the Net Rentable  Area of the  facility of Cryolife  Phase
               II, for all  purposes  under this Lease,  and  excludes a freight
               elevator  that  may be  installed  by  Tenant  at  Tenant's  sole
               expense."

                    In Paragraph 1, styled Premises, on Page 6 is hereby deleted
               in its entirety and substitute in lieu therefor the following:

               "Premises: collectively, the Land, the Facility of Cryolife Phase
               I and the  Facility  of  Cryolife  Phase II, the  interconnection
               between   Cryolife   Phase  I  and   Cryolife   Phase  II  (which
               interconnection  shall be deemed a part of Cryolife Phase II) and
               other improvements located on the Land."

     b.   In Paragraph  2, on Page 7, is hereby  deleted in its entirety and the
          following is substituted in lieu therefor:

               "2.  Agreement  to Lease.  Landlord  hereby  Leases to Tenant and
               Tenant  hereby  accepts the Land of Cryolife  Phase I, located in
               Cobb County,  Georgia,  together  with all  improvements  now and
               hereafter  located  on the Land of  Cryolife  Phase I,  including
               without  limitation  a  building  of  Ninety-Eight  Thousand  Two
               Hundred  Sixty-Eight  (98,268)  sq.  ft. of Gross  Building  Area
               constructed  thereon in accordance  with the Plans (such building
               referred to  hereinafter  as the "Facility of Cryolife Phase I"),
               for a term (the "Term")  commencing on the Commencement  Date and
               ending  ______________  months after the  Commencement  Date (the
               "Termination Date"); provided,  however, that if the Commencement
               Date is not the first (1st) day of the calendar  month,  the Term
               shall end ____________  calendar months after the first (1st) day
               of the calendar month  immediately  succeeding the calendar month
               in which the Commencement  Date occurs,  unless sooner terminated
               as provided herein,  subject to the agreements  herein contained.
               The parties agree and acknowledge that the Commencement  Date for
               the  Facility  of  Cryolife  Phase  I is  _____________  and  the
               Termination  Date for  Cryolife  Phase I will be the  termination
               date for Cryolife Phase II.

                    Landlord hereby Leases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby accepts,
               the Land of Cryolife Phase II,  located in Cobb County,  Georgia,
               together with all  improvements  now or hereafter  located on the
               Land Cryolife Phase II, including  without  limitation a building
               of Ninety-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-Eight (98,268) sq. ft.
               of Gross  Building Area to be  constructed  thereon in accordance
               with the Plans  pursuant  to the  Pre-Occupancy  Agreement  (such
               building  being  referred to herein as the  "Facility of Cryolife
               Phase II") for a term (the "Term") commencing on the Commencement
               Date and ending One Hundred Eighty (180) calendar months from the
               Commencement Date (the "Termination  Date");  provided,  however,
               that if the  Commencement  Date is not the first  (1st) date of a
               calendar  month,  the Term  shall end One  Hundred  Eighty  (180)
               calendar  months  after the first 1st day of the  calendar  month
               immediately   succeeding   the   calendar   month  in  which  the
               Commencement  Date occurs  unless  sooner  terminated as provided
               herein, subject to the agreements herein contained."

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                    In Paragraph 3, on Page 8 the paragraph is hereby deleted in
                    its  entirety  and  the  following  is  substituted  in lieu
                    therefor:

               " 3. Commencement  Date: Except as otherwise  expressly  provided
               for  in  this   Lease  or  the   Pre-Occupancy   Agreement,   the
               "Commencement  Date " for Cryolife  Phase II shall be One Hundred
               Twenty-Two  (122)  days  after  the  later  to  occur  of (i) the
               Substantial   Completion   Date  or   (ii)   October   31,   2000
               ("Anticipated  Commencement Date"). The parties shall confirm the
               date of the Commencement  Date of Cryolife Phase II in writing as
               provided in Section 17 of the Pre-Occupancy Agreement."

                    In Paragraph  6.2, add the  following as a new  paragraph at
               the end of the paragraph:

               "Landlord  represents  that the amount of the assessments for the
               1999  calendar  year is  estimated to equal  approximately  Three
               Hundred and no/100 Dollars ($300.00) per acre".

     c.   In Paragraph  23, Page 41, add the following as a new paragraph at the
          end of the paragraph:

               "23.8  Casualty  Affecting  Cryolife  Phase I - Crolife Phase II.
               Amli and Tenant hereby acknowledge and agree that any Casualty as
               described  in  this  Paragraph  24,  which  only  affects  either
               Cryolife Phase I or Cryolife Phase II and not both Cryolife Phase
               I and Cryolife  Phase II,  Tenant can only  exercise its right of
               termination of the Lease as it relates only to the phase which is
               affected,  i.e.  either  Cryolife  Phase I or  Cryolife  Phase I,
               unless both phases,  i.e. Cryolife Phase I and Cryolife Phase II,
               are effected by such Casualty."

     d.   In Paragraph  24, Page 46, add the following as a new paragraph at the
          end of the paragraph:

               "24.7 Condemnation Affecting Cryolife Phase I - Crolife Phase II.
               Amli  and   Tenant   hereby   acknowledge   and  agree  that  any
               Condemnation  as  described  in this  Paragraph  24,  which  only
               affects  Cryolife  Phase I or  Cryolife  Phase  II and  not  both
               Cryolife  Phase I or Cryolife  Phase II, Tenant can only exercise
               its right of  termination  of the Lease as it relates only to the
               phase which is affected,  i.e. Cryolife Phase I or Cryolife Phase
               I, unless both phases,  i.e.  Cryolife  Phase I or Cryolife Phase
               II, are effected by such condemnation"

                                       4


     e.   In Paragraph 37(a)(i), Page 57, the first sentence of the subparagraph
          is striken in its entirety and the  following is  substituted  in lieu
          therefor:

               "The  initial  Base Rent  payable  during  the first  year of the
               Renewal  Term shall be at a rate equal to one  hundred two (102%)
               percent  of the Base Rent  applicable  to the  Nineteenth  (19th)
               Lease Year for Cryolife Phase I and to the fifteenth (15th) Lease
               Year applicable to Cryolife Phase II".

     f.   In Paragraph 39, Page 59, is hereby deleted in its entirety.

     g.   In Paragraph 41, Page 60, is hereby deleted in its entirety.

     h.   In  Paragraph  43,  Page  61,  add  the  following  at the  end of the
          paragraph:

               "The Moving  Allowance  and Design  Allowance  described  in this
               paragraph are applicable to Cryolife Phase I".

                    Further add at the end of the  paragraph  the  following new
                    paragraph"

                    "The Landlord shall pay the Tenant (i) a moving allowance of
               Ninety-Five   Thousand   Two  Hundred  Ten  and  no/100   Dollars
               ($95,210.00) (the "Moving Allowance  Cryolife Phase II") and (ii)
               a space planning and design allowance of Ninety-Five Thousand Two
               Hundred  Ten  and  no/100  Dollars   ($95,210.00)   (the  "Design
               Allowance  Cryolife  Phase II").  The Moving  Allowance  Cryolife
               Phase II and the Design Allowance  Cryolife Phase II shall be due
               and  payable  on the  date on which  Tenant  takes  occupancy  of
               Cryolife  Phase II.  Tenant  shall  not be  required  to  provide
               verification of Tenant's actual moving expenses or space planning
               or design  expenses  in order to be  entitled  to  payment of the
               Moving Allowance of Cryolife Phase II and the Design Allowance of
               Cryolife Phase II."

                    The following shall be added as a new paragraph 44:

               "44.  Tenant  Allowance.  Landlord  shall  provide  Tenant with a
               Tenant  Improvement  Allowance  ("TIA")  in  accordance  with the
               Pre-Occupancy  Agreement  which TIA shall be fully amortized over
               the initial fifteen (15) year Term of Cryolife Phase II".

                                       5


     i.   Exhibit B is hereby  deleted in its  entirety  and  Exhibit B attached
          hereto and  incorporated  herein by reference is  substituted  in lieu
          therefor.

     j.   Attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 is a Schedule of Base Rent payments for
          Cryolife  Phase  II,  which  Exhibit  B1  is  incorporated  herein  by
          reference.

     k.   In Exhibit C, the form of estoppel  letter for Cryolife Phase II shall
          refer to the year 2000 and the  Premises  shall  refer to the nine and
          one half (9.5)  acres  together  with the  Ninety-Eight  Thousand  Two
          Hundred   Sixty-Eight    (98,268)   sq.   ft.   building   (plus   the
          interconnection)  known as Cryolife Phase II Building in Barrett, Cobb
          County, Georgia.

     l.   Exhibit  E, the form of  Memorandum  of Lease for  Cryolife  Phase II,
          shall refer to the year 2000,  the First  Amendment to Lease as of the
          date of  __________,  1999,  the sq.  footage of the Cryolife Phase II
          Building  shall  be  Ninety-Eight  Thousand  Two  Hundred  Sixty-Eight
          (98,268) sq. ft. (plus the square footage within the  interconnection)
          and the term of the  Lease  shall be from the  Substantial  Completion
          date or October 31, 2000.

     m.   The following shall be added as a new paragraph 45:

               "45. Base Building and Leasehold  Improvements Cryolife Phase II:
               Landlord  shall design and build the base building  shell,  which
               shall  include but is not  necessarily  limited to the  following
               features:  a two-story  block  building over a steel frame,  with
               mirrored  glass;  sprinklers  to meet  code  (heads  turned  up);
               floor-to-ceiling  glass on five-foot centers on four sides of the
               building (adjusted for loading area);  paving,  striping,  leased
               pole  lighting,  curb and  gutter  in the  parking  lot;  parking
               commensurate with Cryolife Phase I; landscaping commensurate with
               Cryolife Phase I; design  specifications for Tenant Improvements;
               two  (2)   hydraulic   elevators   and  entry  lobby  stairs  and
               docking/receiving area similar to Cryolife Phase I.

                    As part of the  construction  of the base building shell for
               Cryolife Phase II,  Landlord shall  construct an  interconnection
               between  Cryolife Phase I building and Cryolife Phase II building
               of  approximately  seven thousand  (7,000) square feet.  Landlord
               shall be responsible for the cost of the  interconnection  not to
               exceed One Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars  ($100,000.00) and
               any cost over and above the first One Hundred Thousand and no/100
               Dollars ($100,000.00) for the construction of the interconnection
               shall be borne by the Tenant.  Tenant may, at its  election,  use
               Tenant Improvement  Allowance up to but not to exceed One Hundred
               Seventy-Five  Thousand and no/100 Dollars  ($175,000.00)  for the
               payment of the construction cost of the interconnection  over and
               above  the  first  One  Hundred   Thousand  and  no/100   Dollars
               ($100,000.00).

                                       6


                    The leasehold  improvements  to be constructed by the Tenant
               and for which the Tenant Improvement Allowance has been allocated
               and established in the Pre-Occupancy  Agreement shall be used for
               the construction of Tenant  Improvements  over and above the base
               building  shell,  including  but not limited to: lobby  finishes;
               tenant build-out;  mechanical,  electrical,  plumbing design cost
               beyond the base  building;  interior  design fees  including  the
               preparation  of  construction  drawings for Tenant  Improvements;
               moving  allowance;  space  planning;  restrooms  beyond  stub-in;
               tenant identification signage; installation of all HVAC, plumbing
               and  electrical  systems  (beyond  minimum  required  by  code in
               compliance with mutually accrued  locations,  specifications  and
               capacity;  construction  management  by Tenant;  and  bonding and
               insurance for the construction of the Tenant Improvements.

                    The  Tenant  shall  be  responsible  for the  designing  and
               constructing  all  Tenant  Improvements,  over and above the base
               building,  and  for  providing  its own  construction  management
               services for the Tenant Improvements to be made by Tenant."

     The parties hereto hereby ratify,  affirm and confirm the Lease, as amended
     hereby, and that the Lease is in full force and effect and that the parties
     are bound by the terms and conditions of the Lease as hereby amended.


                           TENANT:

                           CRYOLIFE, INC.
                           a Florida corporation

                           By:________________________________
                              Steven G.  Anderson
                              Its Chairman, President & CEO

                                    [CORPORATE SEAL]

                              Date of Signature _________________, 1999


                           LANDLORD:

                           AMLI LAND DEVELOPMENT -
                           I LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                           an Illinois limited partnership

                           By: AMLI REALTY CO.,
                           a Delaware corporation, its sole general partner

                           By: _______________________________
                               Philip N.  Tague
                               Executive Vice President

                                    [CORPORATE SEAL]

                               Date of Signature _____________________, 1999