RICHARDSON, TEXAS — Dallas-based Fobare Commercial and architect Parmadesign have broken ground on Collins Center, a 153,000-square-foot speculative office building in Richardson, approximately 13 miles north of Dallas. Located adjacent to the Arapho Station of Dallas Area Rapid Transit at 1225 Alma Road, the building is slated for completion in January 2014 and will be the first speculative office development in Richardson in the past decade. Collins Center’s ground-level floorplate totals 128,000 square feet, while the mezzanine on the north end of the building totals 25,000 square feet. Rick Currey and Chris Doggett of Fobare will oversee leasing, targeting both call centers and corporate tenants.
CLARKFIELD, MINN. — The Skajaquoda Group has signed a lease for a 144,000-square-foot research facility in Clarkfield, a city in southwest Minnesota. The investment company is relocating its headquarters from Claymont, Del. The new location will allow Skajaquoda, which up to this point has only been an investment company, to begin its new research program that focuses on renewable energy. Skajaquoda Group Inc., quoted on the OTC (ticker symbol: SKAJ), invests according to its socially responsible investment policy.
CHICAGO — Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial has completed the $1.7 million sale of a loft office building in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. The property, located at 808 W. Lake St., includes a 7,553-square-foot timber and beam loft office building with an adjacent 3,325-square-foot surface parking lot for 10 cars. One Off Hospitality Group Ltd. purchased the parcel. Scott Maesel of Sperry Van Ness LLC was the sole broker in the transaction.
STAMFORD, CONN. — Northwestern Mutual-Stamford has signed a long-term lease for 20,000 square feet at 400 Atlantic St. in Stamford. The life insurance company is relocating from Westport to the 15-story, 500,000-square-foot Class A office tower. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. and its subsidiaries, which manages $1.4 trillion in life insurance policies. In August, 400 Atlantic St. achieved LEED-Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for Existing Buildings.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Cushman & Wakefield has arranged a 19,500-square-foot, six-year lease extension and expansion for ECLC of New Jersey at 100 Passaic Ave. in Florham Park. ECLC of New Jersey, which provides lifelong services for persons with special needs, will use the location for its executive offices and its P.R.I.D.E. clients. ECLC had previously occupied 12,000 square feet at the location. Situated on 7.8 acres, 100 Passaic Ave. spans 59,000 square feet. Robert Donnelly and Jason Tenenbaum of Cushman & Wakefield’s Morristown office represented ECLC New Jersey. Geoff Schubert of CBRE, who is currently marketing the property for sale, represented the owner, Jefferson-Pilot Investments Inc., in the transaction. Chatham, N.J.-based ECLC operates two schools for young people with special needs. P.R.I.D.E., which stands for promoting responsibility, independence, decision-making and employability, provides day and evening programs for adult graduates of the two schools, with the goal of teaching life and employment skills.
HOUSTON — Trammell Crow Co. and Principal Real Estate Investors have completed the renovations of Noble Energy Center One, a 497,000-square-foot office building in Houston’s Northwest office submarket. The joint venture has also broken ground on Noble Energy Center Two, an adjacent 470,000-square-foot build-to-suit office building. The campus, located at the corner of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road, serves as the global headquarters for Noble Energy, an oil and gas exploration and production company. Noble Energy Center One has obtained LEED Gold certification, and Noble Energy Center Two is pre-certified LEED Gold. The development team consists of Aaron Thielhorn, Brandon Houston and Brain Altway of Trammell Crow, while Austin Commercial serves as general contractor and Kirksey serves as project architect. JP Morgan and US Bank provided construction financing.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — Ipsen has signed a long-term lease for 62,600 square feet of laboratory and office space in Cambridge. The six-story, multi-tenant research facility is located at 650 E. Kendall St. in the heart of Kendall Square. BioMed Realty owns the 282,000-square-foot facility through a joint venture with Prudential Real Estate Investors on behalf of institutional investors. Ipsen is a specialty-driven pharmaceutical company, which focuses on healthcare solutions for debilitating diseases.
CARLSBAD, CALIF. — A 28,402-square-foot office building in Carlsbad has sold to Seymour Capital for $3.7 million. The building is located at 2385 Camino Vida Roble. It was fully occupied at the time of sale. Both the buyer and the seller, Paul H. Meardon, were represented by Nick Totah and Ben Tashakorian of Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office.
OAK BROOK, ILL. — The Davis Cos., on behalf of an affiliate, and Arthur Goldner & Associates have sold The Crossings of Oak Brook in suburban Chicago for $35.7 million, or approximately $117 per square foot. Vancouver, Canada-based Adventus Realty Trust was the buyer. The Crossings of Oak Brook includes 1420 and 1520 Kensington Road, two three-story properties that total 303,510 square feet. The Davis Cos. and Arthur Goldner & Associates acquired the property in January 2010. The joint venture then implemented a capital improvement plan and increased the occupancy from 66 percent to 95 percent. HFF represented the seller and procured the buyer and NAI Hiffman acted as the leasing agent.
CARLSBAD, CALIF. — A 28,402-square-foot office building in Carlsbad has sold to Seymour Capital for $3.7 million. The building is located at 2385 Camino Vida Roble. It was fully occupied at the time of sale. Both the buyer and the seller, Paul H. Meardon, were represented by Nick Totah and Ben Tashakorian of Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office.