— By Caleb Hodge of KWP Real Estate — The Los Angeles office market is undergoing a transformation. Finally. Downtown LA and most of the submarkets were decimated following the pandemic, but leasing activity is increasing. In fact, the fourth quarter of last year saw the highest annual leasing activity since the pandemic was officially declared “over,” according to Savills Research and Data Services. How is this possible? The answer lies in the evolving identity of office spaces, which is driven by the demand for creative office. Despite increased asking rates in certain submarkets, Los Angeles is still a tenant-driven office market. The rub is that hybrid-working models continue to, at times, complicate leasing decisions. Fortunately, highly sought-out creative office space in Los Angeles offers two key incentives: premium amenities and functional, innovative office designs. Creative office space may still be considered niche, but the amenities and design layouts are critical when bringing employees back to the office. In fact, those attributes are highly desired by most modern office workers, whether their industry or physical space is considered “creative” or not. With traffic being a constant factor in LA, centrally located offices with easy commutes for a majority of workers …
LOS ANGELES — SF Capital has secured $56.2 million in life insurance company financing for a mixed-use retail and office portfolio located in Southern California. The 368,000-square-foot portfolio includes 215,000 square feet of office space and 153,000 square feet of retail space. The financing was arranged through SF Capital’s life company correspondent loan program. Additional terms of the financing were not released.
CHICAGO — Workbox, a national workspace operator, has unveiled plans to open its largest U.S. location at the Civic Opera Building in Chicago’s Loop. Workbox Chicago – Civic Opera will offer local entrepreneurs and businesses the opportunity to be part of a coworking community. In addition to flexible workspace solutions, member benefits include direct connection to more than 100 capital and operating partners, programming and networking events as well as connection to affiliates such as Workbox Ventures. The new location is set to open Monday, June 2 and marks the company’s seventh workspace in Chicago and 13th nationwide. Workbox Chicago – Civic Opera will be located along the Chicago River at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1000. Totaling 68,000 square feet, the location spans two floors with lounges, conference rooms, public outdoor space, a workout facility and modern amenities. Offices and suites will be available for teams ranging in size from 1 to 50 employees. Workbox is offering a variety of leasing specials for private offices and suites. There are also floating membership and reserved desk options for those looking for individual plans.
CARROLLTON, TEXAS — Locally based brokerage firm Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services has secured a 10,202-square-foot lease at 2155 Chenault Drive, and industrial flex property in the northern Dallas metro of Carrollton. The tenant, software company SIMStation, is relocating its U.S. headquarters from Miami to the 74,402-square-foot Avion Business Center. Jason Finch and Justin Greenwood of Bradford represented the landlord in the lease negotiations. Jessica Reinhardt of Lee & Associates represented the tenant.
HOUSTON — Goode Company Restaurants has signed a 9,304-square-foot office headquarters lease in West Houston. The operator of local barbeque and Mexican takeout and delivery concepts is taking space at 3555 Timmons Lane, a 230,440-square-foot building located within the Greenway Plaza development. Katy Gragg, John Heard and Eric Anderson of Transwestern represented the landlord, Dallas-based Novel Office, in the lease negotiations. Pollan Hausman Real Estate represented the tenant.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — Drug development and clinical research company QPS will undertake an office and life sciences expansion project within Delaware Technology Park in Wilmington, an initiative that is valued at roughly $16.6 million and is expected to add about 135 new jobs to the local economy. QPS is already the largest tenant within Delaware Technology Park and currently occupies all of the building at 3 Innovation Way and 90 percent of the building at 1 Innovation Way. The company plans to lease an additional 55,515 square feet of space, including more than 15,000 square feet of lab space, in a new building at 6 Innovation Way. QPS currently employs 336 full-time employees in Delaware.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — Bradford Allen Investment Advisors has acquired One Clearlake, an 18-story office tower located at 250 S. Australian Ave. in downtown West Palm Beach. The Chicago-based buyer plans to invest $10 million to fully renovate the 221,661-square-foot property to include a new roof, updated elevator system and fitness center, reimagined tenant lounge and a newly constructed conference center. Additionally, Bradford Allen plans to build four move-in-ready spec suites on one floor that will be ready for delivery by the fourth quarter. Situated near South Florida’s Tri-Rail and Brightline rail services, One Clearlake was originally built in 1986 and is LEED Gold- and Energy Star-certified. Christian Lee, Amy Julian, Andrew Chilgren, Tom Rappa, Matthew Lee and Sean Kelly of CBRE’s National Office Partners of Florida represented the seller in the transaction. Bradford Allen will provide asset and property management services at the property, while Jon Blunk and Laurel Oswald of TCRE will handle leasing negotiations. The transaction marks Bradford Allen’s second office acquisition in South Florida following its purchase of 350 and 450 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale in February.
WELLESLEY, MASS. — Regional owner-operator Grander Capital Partners has completed the redevelopment of a 26,351-square-foot office building in Wellesley, a western suburb of Boston. Grander repositioned the vacant building at 70 Hastings St. to support healthcare uses, introduced new building systems, renovated the lobby and communal areas and upgraded the property’s landscaping. Grander also tapped regional brokerage firm Hunneman to lease the property, which is now 94 percent occupied.
Nashville’s office market is navigating a transformative period as the city evolves into a national powerhouse for commerce, culture and corporate investment. Fueled by continued population growth, economic diversification and a wave of new developments, Nashville remains an attractive and resilient market despite headwinds in the broader commercial real estate landscape. Economic trends Nashville’s economic landscape continues to shift in ways that support long-term office market vitality. Population growth: One of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Nashville continues to benefit from a steady influx of new residents. The expanding talent pool is a major driver of office demand as companies look to establish or expand their footprint in a market rich in skilled labor and cultural vibrancy. Diversifying economy: While music and healthcare have long been economic cornerstones, the city is now seeing strong momentum in sectors like technology, finance, professional services and logistics. These industries bring high-paying jobs and are increasingly seeking high-quality office space that reflects their evolving workplace needs. Return-to-office strategies: Like many U.S. markets, Nashville has witnessed the rise of hybrid work models. However, rather than diminishing the importance of the office, this shift is redefining its role. Employers are focused on right-sizing their …
ALLEN, TEXAS — Fibergrate Composite Structures has opened its new, 13,126-square-foot office headquarters at The Farm at Allen, a 135-acre mixed-use development located on the northeastern outskirts of Dallas. The space is located within the 102,000-square-foot, recently completed FARMWorks One building. Citadel Partners and Hanna Commercial represented the tenant in the negotiations for the lease, which was signed last fall. Newmark represented the landlord, JaRyCo.