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CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — EF Education First has broken ground on its $125 million, 300,000-square-foot facility, located next to the company’s existing building in the North Point area of Cambridge, to serve as its expanded North American headquarters. “Twenty-five years ago, our North American headquarters consisted of three people in a small office at One Memorial Drive in Cambridge, and today we mark the beginning of a new North American headquarters campus, which will host more than 1,200 employees,” says Alex Hult, CEO of EF Education First. “Cambridge and the Commonwealth are true incubators for innovation in education and technology, and we look forward to continuing to grow and succeed here in Massachusetts for years to come.” The 10-story building will include 230,000 square feet of office and education space, as well as a 65,000-square-foot structured parking garage. Additionally, the facility will feature 31,000 square feet of public space and a 14,000-square-foot restaurant. “EF Education First has successfully used education and innovation to become a worldwide leader in international education,” says Governor Deval Patrick. “I am pleased to celebrate with them as they expand and create quality jobs in the commonwealth.” The new facility will result in the creation of 400 …

NEW YORK CITY — Investcorp has expanded its real estate holdings with debt and equity investments in six office properties in Durham, North Carolina, Frisco, Texas and Denver. The combined properties total value exceeds $140 million. “This portfolio adds to our growing mix of investments selected for their strong tenant histories, locations in economically flourishing metropolitan communities and attractive ‘going in’ projected cash yields,” says Herb Myers, managing director of New York City-based Investcorp’s real estate group. “The investment in properties in these cities is consistent with our theme of focusing on metropolitan areas with demand drivers from technology, healthcare, energy and education.” The investments include two equity acquisitions and one debt financing investment. In Durham, the company purchased three buildings in Keystone Office Park and in Frisco it acquired one property in the Duke Bridges office park. The firm also originated a mezzanine loan secured by two office properties located in Denver. The properties, which total more than 900,000 square feet, are approximately 95 percent occupied. Tenants include the National Institute of Health in Durham, Oracle in Frisco and BakerHostetler in Denver. “Office properties in growth markets with strong demand generators are on the rebound, and can be purchased …

BOSTON — HFF has arranged a $170 million construction loan for One Channel Center, a 500,000-square-foot office building in Boston's Seaport District. The project, developed by a joint venture of AREA Property Partners and Commonwealth Ventures, will feature an 11-story office building and 10-level parking garage that can accommodate 950 vehicles. The project broke ground this past summer and is slated for delivery in early 2014. One Channel Center is located in the neighborhood that Mayor Thomas Menino has rebranded as the “Innovation District.” The project is also situated within the larger Channel Center, a 2 million-square-foot mixed-use development area featuring office, residential and retail space. When complete, the new building will be fully occupied by State Street Corp., a financial services company headquartered in Boston. Anthony Cutone and Porter Terry led the HFF team that worked on behalf of AREA and Commonwealth to secure the construction loan. “One Channel Center is an exciting and appropriate culmination of its investors' vision and dedication to establishing Channel Center as a vibrant commercial and residential neighborhood,” says Cutone. “Combining top-notch sponsorship, a central urban location and premier tenancy, the project epitomizes successful urban development.” — Liz Burlingame

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A joint venture between Thomas Properties Group (NASDAQ: TPGI) and the California State Teacher’s Retirement System (CalSTRS) has acquired an eight-building office portfolio totaling 3 million square feet for $859 million. The portfolio includes Frost Bank Tower, 300 W. 6th St., One American Center, San Jacinto Center and One Congress Plaza in downtown Austin and Westech 360, Park Centre and Great Hills Plaza in suburban Austin. “In keeping with our strategic plan to acquire wholly owned or equally controlled properties that are accretive to our after-tax cash flow, we are pleased with the opportunity to increase our investment in Austin and more particularly, in a group of assets that we consider to be crown jewels,” says James Thomas, CEO and chairman of Thomas Properties Group. “We are very encouraged by the continued strength in the Austin market and the prospects for future growth.” The seller was TPG-Austin Portfolio Syndication, a venture between Lehman Brothers Holdings, an offshore sovereign wealth fund and a previous joint venture between TPG/CalSTRS. A subsidiary of Thomas Properties Group is the managing member with a 50 percent interest and CalSTRS owns the other 50 percent. Thomas Properties Group has also entered into an …

NEW YORK CITY — Marriott has signed an agreement to open a 125-room Residence Inn at Metro Center Atrium, a mixed-use project located within the 42-acre Hutchinson Metro Center complex. The Marriott at Metro Center Atrium will be the first luxury hotel in the Bronx. “We’re thrilled that Marriott, one of the world’s premier hospitality companies, has chosen this location,” says Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development. “Metro Center Atrium is unique in the Bronx. There’s nothing quite like it available anywhere else in the borough, and adding this luxury hotel property further builds our momentum toward completion of this thriving mixed-use project.” Simone Development Cos. is developing the 370,000-square-foot Metro Center Atrium, which will include office, medical and retail space in addition to the hotel. The developer has also signed LA Fitness to a 43,000-square-foot lease. Completion of the Marriott is slated for 2014. “Today is a great day for the Bronx,” says James Vacca, New York City council member. “We welcome Marriott as the borough’s first hotel with open arms and hope that it is a signal of even more great things to come. Clearly Marriott has recognized that the Bronx is a destination for New Yorkers and …

GREENWICH, CONN. — Greenwich-based Wheelock Street Capital has acquired 15 hotels in two separate, unrelated transactions totaling $221 million. Wheelock acquired a 12-hotel portfolio from affiliates of Inland American Real Estate Trust for approximately $116 million in a deal that closed last Thursday. The next day, Wheelock closed on the acquisition of three full-service hotels from Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE:SHO) for approximately $105 million. “We are delighted to be adding this collection of high-quality hotels to our portfolio,” says Jonathan Paul, managing partner at Wheelock Street Capital. For the 12-property Inland transaction, GE Capital, Franchise Finance provided newly originated senior financing. The rest was financed through a combination of assumed CMBS loans. CBRE Group and Maxim Hotel Brokerage represented Inland in the transaction. The 12-property portfolio is located primarily in the Southeast with other hotels located in Arizona, Texas and Illinois. Ten of the 12 hotels are branded under long-term license agreements with affiliates of Hilton and Marriott International. The other two hotels are licensed by affiliates of Choice Hotels and Intercontinental Hotels Group. McKibbon Hotel Management and the North Central Group will manage the 12-property portfolio. For the three-property portfolio sold by Sunstone, Wheelock assumed the hotels’ existing CMBS …

NEW YORK CITY — Strategic Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: BEE) has closed on the previously announced $362.3 million purchase of the 509-room Essex House Hotel, located in New York City. “We are proud to once again be involved with this marquee asset, especially given its attractive deal terms, unique and enviable Central Park South location and tremendous upside potential,” says Laurence Geller, president and CEO of Strategic Hotels. The company established a joint venture agreement with an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners to fund the equity portion of the transaction. Strategic Hotels will own 51 percent of the joint venture. The partnership closed on a $190 million first mortgage loan from Bank of America to fund the balance of the purchase price. Construction will begin immediately on property improvement plans to distinguish the property under the JW Marriott flag. Additionally, Marriott International will begin operating the hotel tomorrow, Sept. 18. “Consistent with our strategy of being an opportunistic investor, we moved quickly to take advantage of this highly compelling opportunity,” Geller says. “We are thrilled to have both another irreplaceable asset with Marriott International and to launch a new partnership with KSL Capital Parters, one of the industry’s most admired …

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based developer Carter recently secured a string of major projects across the U.S. — totaling more than $100 million — and has unveiled a new brand identity. This month, the company started construction on the Highpoint at Columbus Commons, a $50 million residential and retail project in downtown Columbus. The 325,000-square-foot project is set for completion in 2013. Carter will also develop a $73 million mixed-use project in Cincinnati and a $40 million student housing complex in Oxford, Miss., known as Highland Square. Additionally, the company is planning about $100 million in deals in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Scott Taylor, Carter's president, says the projects are part of the company's new focus after selling its property management groups to Cassidy Turley last year. Carter's strategy now includes developing student housing, multifamily and mixed-use projects in core areas, along with an expanded consulting and advisory practice. “Our new developments in Ohio, Michigan and Mississippi are part of the plan we announced nine months ago and indicative of what Carter is today,” says Taylor. “As our firm changed, we needed to refresh our identity and brand, and we've done that well.” According to company leaders, Cater's new logo and tagline (Built …

ATHENS, GA. — Ethicon, a surgical care goods provider, plans to invest $185 million to renovate and expand its Georgia facility, located at 655 Ethicon Circle in Cornelia, near Athens. The company is expected to create 75 positions by 2016. “Ethicon has been an important business partner and a growing member of Georgia’s health care products manufacturing community for more than 30 years, so this expansion speaks well of our state’s supportive business environment,” says Gov. Nathan Deal. “We look forward to the impact this expansion will have for the Athens-Clarke County community and for Georgia’s thriving healthcare industry.” The 100,000-square-foot expansion will complement the current facility in the production of suture raw materials. The building will be located on the current site of Ethicon’s sister company, Noramco, which manufactures pharmaceutical ingredients used in medications and medical devices. Additionally, Ethicon plans to make capital improvements to the Cornelia facility, which currently produces the majority of the world’s supply of surgical sutures. Both Ethicon and Noramco are subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson. “We are pleased to be making this investment to enhance our suture manufacturing capabilities,” says Gary Pruden, worldwide chairman of the global surgery group at Johnson & Johnson Medical …

CARMEL, IND. — Senior Quality Lifestyles Corp. (SQLC) and its affiliate, Mayflower Communities, in a partnership with St. Vincent Health, have received financing through the sale of $119 million in revenue bonds for The Barrington of Carmel, a 501(c)3 nonprofit life care community under development in Carmel. B.C. Ziegler and Co. served as the bond underwriter for the transaction. “We are pleased to complete the successful financing of The Barrington and excited to have construction of the new community already underway,” says Charles Brewer, president and CEO of SQLC. “The Barrington will add to Carmel’s already superb reputation as one of the best places to live in the country.” The 264-unit seniors housing community is located at Guilford Road. The Barrington will contain 134 independent living apartments, 56 residential assisted living apartments, 26 memory support suites and 48 skilled nursing beds. Amenities will include fine dining, a bistro, fitness and wellness centers, creative arts studio, salon and spa, library, housekeeping and scheduled transportation. “The financing of The Barrington speaks highly of the reputation of SQLC and Mayflower within the financial community,” says Rich Scanlon, managing director of Ziegler Capital Markets, Senior Living Finance. “The expertise these two organizations bring to …