Office

Demand For Tech Workers Drives Atlanta Office Market, Says CBRE

by Haisten Willis April 14, 2015

LOS ANGELES — Tech talent clustering is a growing driver of demand for office space in both large and small markets across the U.S., according to a new CBRE Research report, “Scoring Tech Talent,” which ranks 50 U.S. markets according to their ability to attract and grow tech talent. Atlanta ranks as number 10 on the overall tech talent list, and has the lowest apartment rents, cost of living, occupancy costs and overall cost of doing business when compared with the other cities in the top 10 (Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Francisco Peninsula, New York, Seattle, Boston, Baltimore and Austin). While established tech markets like San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Seattle dominated the top spots on the “Tech Talent Scorecard,” many smaller, up-and-coming markets stood out as top “momentum markets” based on tech talent growth rates. Oklahoma City and Nashville had tech talent growth rates of 39 percent between 2010 and 2013, higher than Seattle (38 percent) and just below that of San Francisco (44 percent) and Baltimore (42 percent). Portland, Ore., and Charlotte both saw tech talent growth rates of 28 percent, outpacing well-known tech markets like Austin (26.5 percent), Silicon Valley (20.8 percent) and Los Angeles …

April 14, 2015

Market Reports Office Southeast Southeast Market Reports Tennessee

Memphis Office Market’s Pecking Order is Easily Visible During the Current Upturn

by John Nelson April 12, 2015

When it comes to grading commercial office space, there is no doubt that location is still king — and other factors such as price, architecture, functionality and amenities all take a back seat to the property’s location. Since we assign buildings letter grades (A and B), let’s take a look at what these letter combinations mean and the relationship of quality to location. In these scenarios, the first letter describes the building’s class (A or B) and the second letter represents the desirability of its location (A or B). The A/A designation refers to Class A buildings in Class A locations. It’s no surprise that this is the first category of office space absorbed when a market heats up and leasing volume intensifies. During this stage of the cycle, rental rates to inch upward, and more importantly, lease renewal terms tighten as landlords sense a shift toward the middle. For Memphis, Tenn., the total vacancy for Class A space in the East Memphis submarket decreased from 2.9 percent during third quarter 2014 to 2 percent in fourth quarter 2014. Almost 24,000 square feet of Class A office space in the East submarket was leased during fourth quarter 2014, and this …

April 12, 2015

CBRE Global Investors Fund Buys Metropolitan Park East, West in Seattle

by Nellie Day April 8, 2015

SEATTLE — A fund sponsored by CBRE Global Investors has acquired Metropolitan Park East and West in Seattle for a reported $273 million. The Class A office portfolio contains a total of 708,283 square feet in two buildings. The 370,849-square-foot, 20-story Metropolitan Park East is located at 1730 Minor Ave. The 337,434-square-foot, 18-story Metropolitan Park West is located at 1100 Olive Way. The property is situated at the convergence of the South Lake Union, Central Business District and Capitol Hill submarkets. The area boasts a high population of technology and healthcare users. The portfolio is 93.6 percent leased. Notable tenants include Facebook, Swedish Health Services and the Virginia Mason Medical Center. “The South Lake Union submarket has experienced tremendous growth as a result of the influx of technology and biotechnology tenants,” says Vance Maddocks, president of strategic partners U.S. for CBRE Global Investors. “Since 2010, the submarket has posted one million square feet of net absorption, and vacancy has decreased from 14.7 percent to 8 percent.” Metropolitan Park amenities include restaurants, a conference center, electric vehicle charging stations, bike storage and locker rooms. The property also offers attractive views, balcony decks on select floors and 867 parking spaces. CBRE Global …

April 8, 2015

Illinois Midwest Office

Reed Construction Completes 35,500 SF Office Build-Out in Arlington Heights, Ill.

by Danielle Everson April 7, 2015

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL. — Reed Construction has completed a 35,500-square-foot renovation for SVM at 3727 Ventura Drive in Arlington Heights. Founded in 1997, SVM handles the sales, marketing and distribution of gift cards for most major gasoline companies. The firm relocated its headquarters to Arlington Heights from 200 E. Howard Avenue in Des Plaines, Ill. The project included an interior demolition, the addition of office space and a new secure vault. The finished office features high bay ceilings in the common areas, new interior glazing and updated locker rooms. A steel mezzanine conference room suspends from existing crane rails, which overlooks the open floor plan. Bryan Krueger was the principal and Dan Cohen was the project manager for Reed Construction. Wefing Deegan Studios provided the architectural services.

April 7, 2015

Market Reports Nevada Office Western Western Market Reports

Las Vegas Office Market Recovery Gains Momentum

by Nellie Day April 7, 2015

The Las Vegas office market continues to recover and stabilize, capping off 2014 with the 12th consecutive quarter of positive net absorption. Initially slow to recover following the recession, the area’s rebound has recently quickened. The market has an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent, with 2014 being the first year since 2008 to see a rate below 8 percent. Office-related jobs represented 20 percent of the workforce, second only to hospitality, proving the office market is an important part of the area’s growth and vitality. Class A office space along the I-215 Beltway currently shows strong activity. Las Vegas is home to two suburbs that historically were among the fastest-growing communities in the nation: Green Valley in the southeast and Summerlin in the west. Initially built as a means to connect the populations of these communities, the Beltway now extends around the city, connecting to I-15 in the northern valley. Notable recent developments along the Beltway include Krausz Companies’ and WGH Partners’ Gramercy, a mixed-use office, retail and multifamily project in the southwest that added 175,000 square feet of Class A office space in the third quarter of 2014, and The Howard Hughes Corporation’s Downtown Summerlin, a mixed-use project that …

April 7, 2015

Expedia to Purchase Amgen Campus in Seattle for New Headquarters

by Nellie Day April 3, 2015

SEATTLE — Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) has announced its plan to purchase Amgen’s waterfront campus in Seattle for $228.9 million. The online travel company will use the 40-acre campus for its new headquarters. Expedia plans to update the 750,000-square-foot space with a new modern design. The acquisition includes additional land that could be used for future expansion. The campus is located at 1201 Amgen Court W. The new headquarters features views of downtown Seattle, Mt. Rainier, the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Expedia will be relocating from its current space at 333 108th Ave. NE in nearby Bellevue. Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray made the announcement Thursday, April 2, during a press conference. “It has been a tough decision to leave Bellevue, which has been a welcoming and supportive home to Expedia for many years,” said Khosrowshahi. “Owning an iconic waterfront headquarters will position us well in the competition for top talent and aligns with the ‘work hard, play hard’ culture that defines Expedia. We are thrilled to make Seattle our permanent home with a new headquarters befitting the growing global technology company we are.” Biotech firm Amgen announced its plans to vacate the campus in …

April 3, 2015

Illinois Midwest Office

Summit Design + Build LLC to Complete 20,588 SF Office Build-Out in Schaumburg, Ill.

by Danielle Everson April 3, 2015

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Summit Design + Build LLC will complete a 20,588-square-foot office build-out for Sparton Corp. at Woodfield Corporate Center in Schaumburg. The property is located at 425 N. Martingale Road. The firm, which is currently located in the same building, will be expanding to the entire 10th floor. Construction plans include the demolition of the existing space and build-out of a new reception area, multiple conference rooms, private offices, executive suite, boardroom and a new large training area with state-of-the-art technology. Lincoln Property Co. is the property manager of Woodfield Corporate Center. EWP Architects will provide architectural services. Completion is scheduled for this spring. Sparton Corp. is a provider of electromechanical devices with capabilities that include concept development, industrial design, design and manufacturing engineering, production, distribution, field service and refurbishment. The primary markets served are medical and biotechnology, military and aerospace, and industrial and commercial.

April 3, 2015

Illinois Midwest Office

Metonic Real Estate Solutions Buys 58,000 SF Office Building in Chicago

by Danielle Everson March 31, 2015

CHICAGO — Metonic Real Estate Solutions has purchased a six-story, 58,000-square-foot, brick and timber office building in Chicago for an undisclosed sales price. The property is located at 217 N. Jefferson St. in the West Loop and includes an adjacent 40-stall surface parking lot. The building was originally constructed in 1938 and redeveloped in 2008. It is fully occupied primarily by technology and creative tenants.

March 31, 2015

Market Reports Massachusetts Northeast Northeast Market Reports Office

Boston Office Market: Can 2015 Top a Blockbuster 2014?

by Jaime Lackey March 11, 2015

By all measures, 2014 was the strongest year in recent memory for the Boston office market. With an approximate 1.8 million square feet of positive net absorption, nearly 5 million square feet of tenant demand, and continued development around the city, Boston remained one the country’s strongest markets. It’s not news that proximity to parking, public transportation, restaurants, bars and other amenities keeps employees happy. But Boston’s escalating prices mean cost-conscious companies must evaluate their downtown options — which means they have begun trading other items of importance, such as locational cachet, space configuration, look, feel and ultimately building type, for access to amenities. As a result, if 2013 was the year of the Seaport, then 2014 was the year of Downtown Crossing (DTX). With the renovation of 10 Summer Street and Havas’ 120,000-square-foot move to the Millennium redevelopment complete, other companies have followed suit. The third and fourth quarters brought more than 250,000 square feet of deals to 500 Washington Street. Carbonite and Sonos took 52,000 square feet and 170,000 square feet, respectively, in the third quarter, while Safari Books Online took 30,000 square feet in the fourth. Prominent national non-profit Year Up also consolidated its headquarters near DTX …

March 11, 2015

California Market Reports Office Western Western Market Reports

San Diego’s Office Landscape is Changing

by Nellie Day March 10, 2015

San Diego’s core commercial office markets continue to tighten. Less than 1 million square feet was added last year, while more than 1.2 million square feet was absorbed. In 2014, construction commenced on the first speculative high-rise office project since Hines’ La Jolla Commons I in 2008. The Irvine Company plans to deliver a 306,000-square-foot, Class A development called One La Jolla Center in UTC this year. This project follows on the heels of the adjacent 415,000-square-foot, build-to-suit for LPL. This activity points to a strengthening market as developers, equity partners and lenders believe the benefit outweighs the risk of speculative development. Sorrento Mesa also received 410,000 square feet of new office space at 10001 Pacific Heights Blvd. last year that was pre-committed by owner-user Qualcomm. The overall vacancy rate for the core markets in three San Diego regions (Downtown, Central and North County) was reduced to 11.5 percent by year’s end, indicating a tight market for users. Rent spikes can be anticipated when vacancy rates shrink to single digits. This should occur this year in submarkets like the Uptown area (5.5 percent), Poway (5.4 percent), Rancho Bernardo (6.8 percent), North Beach Cities (5.7 percent), Torrey Pines (8.0 percent), Sorrento …

March 10, 2015

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