The Buzz- January 20,2010

California

Anaheim- Accurate Metal Fabricators (AMF) is relocating its corporate office. The custom fabrication company leased the entire 153,320-square-foot warehouse at 3340 E La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, CA.

San Francisco-Legal Match subleased 15,000 square feet of the top floor of 395 Oyster Point Blvd. in South San Francisco, CA ,from Oncology Therapeutics Network, which occupies the remainder of the fifth floor. The sublease term extends through 2014. The five-story, 234,479-square-foot, Class A office at 395 Oyster Point is in the Oyster Point Marina Plaza, and has achieved the Energy Star rating for the past three years. Brian Beswick and Alex Wilson of CB Richard Ellis represented Oncology Therapeutics, while Studley represented Legal Match.

District of Columbia

Washington- Akridge signed Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP to a 15-year, 156,676-square-foot office lease at its new 300,000-square-foot office property in Washington, DC’s East End submarket. Sutherland, a law practice with nearly 500 attorneys in five major markets, will occupy floors five to 10 in the 12-story building at 700 Sixth St. NW. Move in is planned for Jan. 1, 2013.

The law firm will relocate from three area offices including its biggest space at Willco Construction’s 216,900-square-foot, 13-story building at 1275 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Sutherland currently occupies about 105,000 square feet with a lease expiration in three years.

Washington- Also at 700 6th St., Becton, Dickinson and Co. inked a new 10-year deal for 5,200 square feet on the fourth floor.


Florida

Fort Lauderdale- Franklin Templeton Investments leased 80,448 square feet at 300 Las Olas Place in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Developer and owner Stiles Realty signed the global investment management firm to a 10-year term. Franklin intends to move all of its 350 local employees to the building. The 10-story, 100,000-square-foot office building recently received LEED Gold certification for its operating efficiency.

Tampa Bay- Also in the Tampa Bay region, Metromont Corp. has begun construction on 50,000-square-foot pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete manufacturing plant on an 80-acre site in Polk County. Headquartered in Greenville, SC, the company estimates it will create 100 high wage jobs over a three year period with a capital investment in Polk County of $6 - $8 million

Georgia

Alpharetta-ICx Tactical Platforms, a company that manufactures unmanned and manned surveillance and deterrence towers, leased 50,746 square feet at Shiloh 400 Business Center at 5940 Cabot Parkway in Alpharetta, GA. The transaction reflected a consolidation and expansion out of two buildings in Forest Park for its research, development and production operations. ICx is expected to bring 50 to 60 jobs to Forsyth County. Built in 2008, the industrial property is 80,704 square feet on 5.5 acres.

Duluth- NCR Corp. signed a 10-year lease for 45,347 square feet at 3095 Satellite Blvd. in Duluth, GA. The six-story office building totals 133,838 square feet at the Satellite Place office park. NCR's lease includes the entire second and third floors. John Ferguson and John Shlesinger of CB Richard Ellis represented NCR.


New Jersey

Princeton- Axis Insurance Co. signed for 26,600 square feet at 1 University Square Drive in Princeton, NJ. The insurance provider expects to take occupancy in second quarter 2010. The five-story, 316,000-square-foot office building is in the Princeton South submarket and was built in 2007. Ward Greer of FirstService Williams represented the landlord, RXR. Mario Chiarella and Mark Fowler of Weichert Commercial Brokerage Inc., along with Jimmy Sanders and Mitch Kahlert of ICON Commercial Interests, represented the tenant.

Warren- NicOx is moving its U.S. headquarters to 20 Independence Blvd. in Warren, NJ. The French pharmaceutical company is doubling its office space, taking 12,000 square feet. The drug is currently under review and is expected to receive approval by mid-2010. The four-story, 120,000-square-foot office building was constructed in 1984 on about 10 acres. Normany Real Estate Partners. Andrew Tarvin of FirstService Williams represented NicOx in this transaction.


Pennsylvania

Philadelphia- Drexel University has selected Turner Construction to head construction of a 138,000-square-foot science building on the university's main campus in Philadelphia.

The Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building will house 39 research and teaching laboratories for bio-medical engineering, biology and chemistry and a fossil preparation lab when it's completed in June 2011. The $49.7 million integrated sciences building will also feature a five-story atrium and a "biowall" -- a natural air filter that removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and CO2 from the air -- the first of its kind at a U.S. university.


South Carolina

Greer- Green Investors One LLC acquired 12 acres on the corner of Brushy Creek Road and Suber Road in Greer, SC, from Enigma Corp. for $675,000, or about $57,100 per acre. A portion of the land has been leased to Classy Kids Child Care, which plans to build a 10,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to open for business by July. After-school program

Greer- TweenScene Inc. leased an additional part of the land, with a 4,000-square-foot building also planned for a July opening. Other pads are available for purchase, sale or build-to-suit. Bobby Hines and Zach Hines of Langston-Black Real Estate's Greenville office represented the buyer in the sale, as well as both tenants in the leases of the pad sites. Richard Phipps and Laura McCulloch of The Spinx Co. represented the seller.

Texas

Houston- LOGIX Communications is relocating its corporate headquarters, signing for 36,710 square feet at Brookhollow Central III in Houston. The 300,616-square-foot, 12-story office building at 2950 N. Loop Freeway W. was built in 1981 and is 95 percent leased. It is part of the three-building, 800,000-square-foot Brookhollow Central business campus. Brad Marnitz of NAI Houston represented LOGIX.


Westlake- Deloitte LLP has awarded Turner Construction Co. a $130 million contract to provide construction services for a 712,000-square-foot "Deloitte University" learning and leadership development center in Westlake, TX.

The facility, being built on a 107-acre property and slated for completion in 2011, will seek a LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility will serve as a central destination for new hires to senior leadership at the accounting giant to convene for learning and leadership development. The campus will feature 800 guest rooms, multiple conference spaces and 35 classrooms that will host thought leadership events by Deloitte Research and Deloitte Industry Centers and sessions with professors from nationally accredited universities and colleges.

The facility will also serve as a place where Deloitte personnel can connect with mentors and colleagues. The facility will also feature dining venues, a ballroom, a business center, recreational facilities and a fitness center


Virginia

Virginia Beach- Virginia Natural Gas preleased a 32,500-square-foot building at Lakeview Corporate Park in Virginia Beach, VA, for 15 years. Developer Armada Hoffler has already begun construction on the two-story property near Independence Boulevard and Interstate 264. Delivery is scheduled for third quarter of this year. Virginia Natural Gas plans to consolidate two locations in Norfolk and move its headquarters to the new Virginia Beach industrial building by next year. Ken Benassi from CB Richard Ellis and Deborah Stearns from Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate jointly represented Virginia Natural Gas.