CHICAGO — Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) has leased 34,295 square feet at Fulton Labs in Chicago. Trammell Crow Co. (TCC) is the owner and developer of the property. Illinois Tech will occupy the entire seventh floor of the wet lab facility at 400 N. Aberdeen St. The facility will serve as the university’s first off-campus move to a commercial research hub. Illinois Tech expects to take occupancy by late summer 2024. Illinois Tech researchers will focus on biomedical and biological engineering, including sensors, separation science and electrochemical energy materials along with more biology-focused research such as therapeutics development. Dan Lyne of CBRE represented TCC, while Max Zwolan and Scott Brandwein of JLL represented Illinois Tech. Perkins & Will designed the new space for Illinois Tech. Power Construction will serve as general contractor for the build-out. Fulton Labs totals 725,000 square feet across two buildings.
Leasing Activity
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Colliers has arranged a 37,654-square-foot office lease renewal at 55 Beattie Place in downtown Greenville. The tenant, regional law firm Gallivan White & Boyd, is renewing its space within One Liberty Square. Bailey Tollison, Brantley Anderson and Taylor Allen of Colliers represented the tenant in the lease transaction. The landlord was not disclosed. In addition to the One Liberty Square renewal, the Colliers team recently represented Gallivan White & Boyd in other office leases in Columbia, S.C., and Charlotte.
MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS — Colliers has secured a 118,258-square-foot industrial lease at Cravens Logistics Center, a 249,370-square-foot development located in the southwestern Houston suburb of Missouri City. The newly built facility sits on 17.6 acres and features 36-foot clear heights, 180-foot truck court depths and 49 trailer parking spaces. John Nicholson of Colliers represented the landlord, Johnson Development, in the lease negotiations. The tenant was medical supplies provider Optimal & Medpro.
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — Desi Brothers Farmers Market will open a 47,814-square-foot grocery store at Round Rock Crossing on the northern outskirts of Austin. Britt Morrison and Nick Naumann of Weitzman represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Michael DuBois of Dallas-based Pride Commercial Properties represented Desi Brothers. Other tenants at Round Rock Crossing include Target, Best Buy, Michaels and Salons by JC. The opening is slated for some time next year.
HOUSTON — A subsidiary of national homebuilder Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH) has signed a 17,899-square-foot office lease renewal at Reserve at Westchase, a 194,919-square-foot building in Houston’s Westchase District. Jack Scharnberg and John Heard of Transwestern represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Neil Elliott, Dustin Cruz and Lawson Martin of Cresa represented the tenant. Reserve at Westchase is currently undergoing a capital improvement program to upgrade the lobby and other common areas.
TOLEDO, OHIO — Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc. (CEC) has expanded its office lease at One Seagate in Toledo by an additional 4,000 square feet. The company now occupies 16,000 square feet at the 725,000-square-foot office building, which is owned by AmTrust RE. One Seagate features a lobby lounge, café, auditorium and shared conference space. CEC is an engineering and environmental consulting firm that provides services across various disciplines such as air quality, civil engineering, ecological science and waste management. Stephanie Kuhlman of NAI Harmon Group represented CEC. Anne Holker, Mike Abernathy and Jason Westendorf represented AmTrust RE on an internal basis along with Harlan Reichle of Reichle/Klein Group.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Global investment banking firm Jefferies LLC has signed a 60,000-square-foot office lease renewal at 101 Hudson St. in Jersey City. The 42-story, 1.2 million-square-foot tower is located in the city’s Exchange Place neighborhood and is known as The Merrill Lynch Building. Conor Dolan, David Opper and Mike Nieliwodski of CBRE represented the landlord, The Birch Group, in the lease negotiations. Rob Lowe of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant.
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Lee & Associates: Slowing Absorption, Rent Growth Put Brakes on New Development for Most Real Estate Types, Though Retail Sector Shines
Slower absorption and rent growth plagued industrial, office and multifamily asset classes across the United States in the third quarter, as outlined in Lee & Associates’ 2023 Q3 North America Market Report. Some regional exceptions were able to buck the overdevelopment trend, but retail was the only property type to avoid the quarter’s shift toward rising vacancy rates. High interest rates, slower rent growth and fear of overbuilding have contributed to lower construction starts in every sector. The full Lee & Associates report is available — including breakdowns of factors like detailed vacancy rates, inventory square footage, cap rates outlined city by city, market rents and more — here. The analysis below provides an overview of industrial, office, retail and multifamily real estate sectors alongside sector trends, economic background as well as geographic exceptions within each property type. Industrial Overview: Absorption Continues Slowing, Inventories to Spike Demand for industrial space remained positive in the United States in the third quarter, but growth this year has lost steam compared to strong net absorption totals of the last two years. U.S. net growth in the third quarter totaled 29.9 million square feet compared to 94 million square feet for the same period last year. …
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has signed a 75,000-square-foot office lease at Nashville Yards, a 19-acre mixed-use project currently underway in downtown Nashville. Scheduled to begin in late 2025, CAA’s occupancy will span two floors. Designed by CannonDesign, the office will feature indoor-outdoor workspaces, game and listening lounges and private terraces on each floor. Amenities at the property, which is located at 955 Church St., will include plazas, courtyards, green spaces, meeting hubs, entertainment spaces, an outdoor deck, three levels of retail and dining space, parking and valet services. CAA will be relocating from its current Nashville office within the SunTrust building next to the Ryman Auditorium. Southwest Value Partners is the landlord and developer at Nashville Yards, which, upon completion, will feature a 591-room hotel and a 4,500-person concert venue in addition to retail, dining and office space.
HOUSTON — National homebuilder Taylor Morrison has signed a 29,000-square-foot office lease at Reserve at Westchase, a 194,919-square-foot building in Houston’s Westchase District. Jack Scharnberg and John Heard of Transwestern represented the undisclosed landlord in the lease negotiations. Jon Lee and Claire Douthit of CBRE represented the tenant, which is relocating from a nearby building at 2929 Briarpark Drive. Reserve at Westchase is currently undergoing a capital improvement program to upgrade the lobby and other common areas.