Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Another Look at the Corporate HQ for Tech Companies

In the beginning of 2014, I ran a five-part series on the new gigantic and expensive corporate headquarters that are being designed and built by the leading tech companies in the world. As we close the year, the NYT ran an updated article (we have included it below) on most of the headquarters we researched. They also had a … Continue reading Another Look at the Corporate HQ for Tech Companies

Categories Design, Narrative

Cozy in Your Cubicle? An Office Design Alternative May Improve Efficiency

Open office design, benching, and cool space layout have been topics we have discussed over the past few years. Below is a very interesting article on the start of the open office space movement and why it failed miserably. Today, we are seeing open office layouts in over 70 percent of new space designs. That does not mean the C-Suite … Continue reading Cozy in Your Cubicle? An Office Design Alternative May Improve Efficiency

Categories Recent Transactions

Congratulations to Hivewyre on their expansion at SkySong3!

Hivewyre (formerly adhesive.co) originally signed a lease at SkySong3 in July 2014, and now they are expanding!  Hivewyre is an online advertising co-op, and is a perfect fit at Skysong with their collaborative and innovative nature of business. If you are interested in learning more about what SkySong has to offer please give us a … Continue reading Congratulations to Hivewyre on their expansion at SkySong3!

Categories Economy, Narrative

Employment Growth – Employer Payroll Survey vs. Household Survey

My favorite economist who tracks the national economy and the US office market is Peter Linneman. He produced the graph below which shows job loss and gain during the recession. This graph demonstrates exactly why I follow the jobs market so closely and why most office markets in the US have been slow to recover. Surprisingly, there are just a few … Continue reading Employment Growth – Employer Payroll Survey vs. Household Survey

Categories Recent Transactions

Solugenix is relocating to SkySong 3!

Solugenix is relocating their office to the recently completed SkySong 3 office building. SkySong Center is one the most dynamic centers for innovation and technology where cutting-edge companies come together to collaborate and grow. Learn more about Skysong at www.skysongcenter.com.

Categories Recent Transactions

Hilltop Scottsdale gains Guardian Mortgage as new tenant

Congratulations to Guardian Mortgage on their new lease at 6929 E. Greenway Road in Scottsdale. The Coppola-Cheney Group represented Furst properties, owner of Hilltop, in this transaction. Furst Properties owns and manages seven Class A buildings in North Scottsdale. Call us to find out more information!

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

One Commercial Real Estate Tech Industry to Watch Close for the Good AND the Bad

Crowdfunding has become a hot market for all kinds of ideas, such as the potato salad guy who raised over $55,000 for his recipe (Click here to learn more). The commercial real estate market is not immune to this new trend. With the passage of a new law, there has been a 334% increase of crowdfundings in commercial real estate properties year … Continue reading One Commercial Real Estate Tech Industry to Watch Close for the Good AND the Bad

Categories Economy, Narrative

Spheres of Influence

Every now and then I see cool graphs that grab my attention. Site Selection magazine ran the below graphs showing the top industries and the top projects of the year (2013).   I found the following insights: –Where companies are headquartered and the size of each company are very interesting. There is some clustering, but not always. –Transportation is driving the … Continue reading Spheres of Influence

Categories Economy, Narrative

7 Bold Commercial Real Estate Predictions

In my weekly narrative, I spend quite a bit of time thinking, talking, and looking at the future. Below are seven bold predictions by some of the leading thinkers in our industry. Here a few key predictions that stand out: –Malls will soon be extinct –Technology will run buildings (we see that coming today) –Green buildings will become the norm … Continue reading 7 Bold Commercial Real Estate Predictions

Categories Design, Narrative

Downsizing and Space Utilization

Increasing space utilization is a goal almost all of the tenants we represent have. Below is an article that discusses the inherent difficulties of attaining the perfect space and layout. At the end of 2013, tenants were space planning to 180 SF per person. As described in this narrative previously, this brings a large number of issues to the forefront, … Continue reading Downsizing and Space Utilization

Categories Narrative

Are you in an unhealthy office relationship?

Below is a cool infographic on some of the issues affecting workspace. This includes air quality, temperature variations, natural light, and, of course, noise in any open environment. I really like the summary of unhealthy and healthy office space situations. If you are looking for space, make sure you think about these issues as you design your office. If you are … Continue reading Are you in an unhealthy office relationship?

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Market Insight: Q3 2014 Phoenix Office Report

Finally, some good news. The Metro Phoenix Office posted just under 800,000 SF of net absorption for the third quarter. A significant number of the tenants I talked to while canvassing buildings have either just expanded or are considering expanding in the near future. Despite the strong absorption, vacancy remains high at 21.6% across the entire market. Except for … Continue reading Market Insight: Q3 2014 Phoenix Office Report

Categories Recent Transactions

Alliance of Arizona Non-Profits Moves to 360 E. Coronado

Congratulations to the Alliance of Arizona Non-profits on their relocation to 360 E. Coronado, Suite 120, in Phoenix. The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits is a unifying association formed in 2004 to advance the common interests of more than 20,000 nonprofits in the Grand Canyon State. They are a statewide organization of, by, and for all … Continue reading Alliance of Arizona Non-Profits Moves to 360 E. Coronado

Categories Graphs, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

An Analysis of U.S. High-Rise Construction Activity in This Century

Below is a 2013 article Andy Conlin sent me analyzing high-rise construction in the United States. David Holmes takes an in-depth look at the major economic factors affecting skyscrapers (defined as buildings 18 stories or higher in this article) built since 2000. This timeline would include only one construction cycle and two recessions, but the conclusions are interesting. I’ve … Continue reading An Analysis of U.S. High-Rise Construction Activity in This Century

Categories Recent Transactions

SkySong 3 achieves LEED Certification

We are excited to announce that our listing SkySong 3 has officially gone “green” by achieving the elite Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. http://cem-az.com/skysong-3-building-awarded-leed-silver-certification/ SkySong 3 Building Awarded LEED Silver Certification SkySong 3 has officially gone “green.” The four-story, 145,000-square-foot office and research building at the … Continue reading SkySong 3 achieves LEED Certification

Categories Recent Transactions

Taser Signs Office Lease at Pinnacle In Perimeter Center

Congratulations to TASER International on their expansion to the beautiful Pinnacle in Perimeter Center at 17851 N. 85th St. in Scottsdale. TASER was founded in 1993 and has remained committed to providing solutions which Protect Life, Protect Truth, and Protect Family. Taser’s industry-leading Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs) are used worldwide by law enforcement, military, correctional, … Continue reading Taser Signs Office Lease at Pinnacle In Perimeter Center

Categories Economy, Narrative

5 Measures of Arizona’s Economy As Fall Season Arrives

The local paper in Phoenix, The Arizona Republic, published a great summary about the Arizona economy and my favorite topic—Jobs. Please take a look below for the full article, but here are a few highlights:   –We are still at 60% of jobs recovered from pre-recession numbers. –Construction, typically our get-out-of-the-slump card, is severely lagging. –One bright spot … Continue reading 5 Measures of Arizona’s Economy As Fall Season Arrives

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Market Knowledge: Phoenix Office Report Q2 2014

The Phoenix office market continues to slowly improve. Too slow for my taste, but improvement is always good. Unless you are in Tempe, Chandler or Scottsdale, the market is not improving as fast as owners and investors would like. Lee & Associates Arizona released its second quarter Office Market Update in July and showed that success these … Continue reading Market Knowledge: Phoenix Office Report Q2 2014

Categories Narrative

Tiniest Homes on Earth

I have sent you $100 million homes and condos that are now reaching that same level. I sent the top ten land owners including Ted Turner who once again was the top land owner in America with over 2,000,000 acres. Today, you get to see the world’s smallest homes. How small? Less than 500 square feet. … Continue reading Tiniest Homes on Earth

Categories Narrative

Week 2–Most Expensive Condos in the World and Who Owns Them

Normally, I am focused on office space, employment numbers, trends and wild-looking buildings and spaces. This week I’m looking at something a little different, but still following the major themes. Below is a long but fascinating article about the most expensive condos in the world and who owns them. Written as an investigative piece by Vanity … Continue reading Week 2–Most Expensive Condos in the World and Who Owns Them

Categories Narrative

The Top 12 Ingredients in Site Selection You Need to Know

Recently, I attended an interesting event on site selection at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s (GPEC) office downtown. They hosted a panel of corporate site selectors from New York, Texas, California, Ohio and Colorado who discussed their criteria when choosing a city and project. These types of events are exclusive to members of the GPEC … Continue reading The Top 12 Ingredients in Site Selection You Need to Know

Categories Economy, Narrative

Highlights from Arizona State University’s Annual Economic Outlook

Over the last two weeks, I have talked about the numbers behind the job numbers in the US and Arizona. Of course, there are people much more qualified and articulate who actually track this kind of data for a living. Arizona State University’s annual Economic Outlook produced some quality information that I thought I would … Continue reading Highlights from Arizona State University’s Annual Economic Outlook

Categories Recent Transactions

Pima Center signs lease to Chargepoint

Congratulations to Chargepoint, Inc. on their new office located at 9150 E. del Camino, Suite 108 in Scottsdale! Chargepoint is the largest and most open electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the world.

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

A Look at the Numbers Behind the Current Headlines About Job Creation

Job creation news made headlines a few weeks back touting that the United States had recovered all of the jobs that were lost during the great recession. In Arizona, however, we are still way behind our pre-recession levels. Over the next two weeks, we are going to try to tie jobs, the Phoenix office market, … Continue reading A Look at the Numbers Behind the Current Headlines About Job Creation

Categories Recent Transactions

Back to School Clothing Drive moves to Legacy Place

Congratulations to Back To School Clothing Drive Association on their new location at 360 E. Coronado in Phoenix! Back To School Clothing Drive Assoc. provides items such as clean clothes, shoes that fit, and a backpack stocked with school supplies (and more) to high-need children throughout Arizona.

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Market Insight: Phoenix Office Report Q1 2014

Want to know the latest trends in the Phoenix Office market? Here’s what’s going on: Our first quarter Office Market Report was just released this week with some interesting stats. We had an excellent quarter for net absorption, the most important measure of the market’s health. We absorbed 727,000 SF, and if we keep that pace up, … Continue reading Market Insight: Phoenix Office Report Q1 2014

Categories Design, Narrative

NAIOP’s ‘Office of the Future’ Competition

Last year NAIOP held another office of the future competition. Below are the four finalists and their concepts. Here is a summary: –Hickok Cole out of Washington DC suggested a building with a second “skin” that could help filter sunlight and change as heat and light change. –Miller Hull from Seattle talked about adaptability where contemplation and collaboration are designed into the … Continue reading NAIOP’s ‘Office of the Future’ Competition

Categories Narrative

The Construction and Leasing of One World Trade Center

Like most Americans, I followed the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center closely. Unlike most, I have continued to track the progress of the redevelopment with interest because of the office space component. Today, you get a quick update on the office space and some interesting thoughts. First, we are now into 2014, and the tower is being … Continue reading The Construction and Leasing of One World Trade Center

Categories Design, Narrative

Colors and Productivity — 5 Big Trends in Office Design and Colors and What They Mean

Below are the five big trends in office design for 2014. Guess what? I have been ALL OVER these trends for the past two years. Talk about getting cutting edge info before it is cutting edge—read it right here and be ahead of the game. Seriously, the five trends are things I have spent a lot of time … Continue reading Colors and Productivity — 5 Big Trends in Office Design and Colors and What They Mean

Categories Recent Transactions

Urias Communications signs lease at 5050 N. 40th Street

We are excited to announce that Urias Communications has a new office location at 5050 N. 40th St., Suite 280 in Phoenix! Urias Communications is a local and national award-winning advertising, community and public relations agency, specializing in connecting their clients to the growing multicultural markets of the U.S. Southwest.

Categories Recent Transactions

Creative Marketing International Corp. moves to Transamerica

We are happy to announce that Creative Marketing International Corporation has a new office location at the Transamerica Research Center at 7855 S. River Parkway, Suite 114 in Tempe! Since 1984, Creative Marketing has partnered with annuities, life insurance and securities producers to help them find the best products for their clients, market their services, … Continue reading Creative Marketing International Corp. moves to Transamerica

Categories Recent Transactions

Legacy Place gains new tenant: Mission of Mercy

Congratulations to Mission of Mercy, Inc. on their new office location at 360 E. Coronado, Suite 160 in Phoenix! Since 1994, Mission of Mercy has served many communities by providing free healthcare, free dental care and free prescription medications.

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Thoughtful Outlook for Office Space in 2014

Annually, I review a large number of commercial office research. Below is a link to the UBS Global Asset Management US Real Estate Market Outlook 2014. With all of the cumbersome reports published, I find this one to be very concise and insightful. The entire report is 28 pages but we have included the key office pages below. Many trends … Continue reading Thoughtful Outlook for Office Space in 2014

Categories Recent Transactions

Congratulations to DHI Title on their new space at Arrowhead

Congratulations to DHI Title of Arizona, Inc. on their continued stay in the Arrowhead Business Center at 7025 W. Bell Rd., Suite C-2 in Glendale! DHI Title is a title insurance agency that prides itself on consistently providing an unexpected level of care and service to the Client, compelling him/her to become a “Customer for … Continue reading Congratulations to DHI Title on their new space at Arrowhead

Categories Design, Narrative

Week 5: The Best for Last or at Least the Most Expensive–Apple’s New HQ

Eighteen months ago, I sent out the initial renderings of Apple’s new campus. Now you get an insider’s view. “Apple Campus 2,” as it is called, looks like a spaceship that has landed and the price tag is out of this world as well. Five billion dollars. This was Steve Job’s last big project he … Continue reading Week 5: The Best for Last or at Least the Most Expensive–Apple’s New HQ

Categories Design, Narrative

Week 3–Google’s New Headquarters and a Bonus

Continuing our tour of billion dollar plus new headquarters, we turn to Google. Google is planning on building nine buildings with the now familiar pedestrian and bicycle friendly environments. When completed, this 1.1 million square foot project in Mountain View, CA, will be comprised of nine fairly traditional buildings connected by “messy” courtyards. Below is a bunch of renderings that … Continue reading Week 3–Google’s New Headquarters and a Bonus

Categories Design, Narrative

Week Two of Our Five-Week Review of the New Corporate Headquarters–Amazon

Last week started our five week review of new corporate headquarters with a review of Facebook’s billion dollar investment. Today, we move north to Seattle and Amazon. Can you believe Amazon has spent $1.4 BILLION in just the past 12 months on building a headquarters they are now calling a company town? Facebook wanted a low rise, garden feeling while Amazon is going with spheres … Continue reading Week Two of Our Five-Week Review of the New Corporate Headquarters–Amazon

Categories Design, Narrative

A 5-Week Review of New Corporate Headquarters – First up: Facebook

Some of the world’s biggest companies are designing and building World Headquarters. These are not just your run-of-the-mill buildings, rather they are unbelievable in scope and design. AND the companies we analyzed are taking dramatically different approaches. Enjoy the designs, thoughts behind them, and a more intimate understanding of the companies themselves. First up is Facebook. Over the past … Continue reading A 5-Week Review of New Corporate Headquarters – First up: Facebook

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Q4 2013 Office Market Report

Our fourth quarter 2013 Office market absorption numbers came out last week. A short summary: We are making progress but absorption fell below expectations. We concluded the year just under 1.3 million SF of net (not gross) absorption. Net absorption is the true measure of a market’s performance. The net absorption in 2013 was down 36% from 2012, however, we beat … Continue reading Q4 2013 Office Market Report

Categories Narrative

5 Years After The Crisis, Big Banks Are Bigger Than Ever

First, a disclaimer: I am a capitalist. I believe free enterprise is flawed, but that it is, by far, the best system to create wealth and operate a country. Below are two articles that show what is happening with banking in the US. First is a graph and quick article comparing the four largest banks in 2008 vs. 2013.  The US government has created an environment … Continue reading 5 Years After The Crisis, Big Banks Are Bigger Than Ever

Categories Design, Narrative

The Slow Death of the Private Office

I continue to track the development of the new, collaborative office place including the new headquarters of some of the biggest companies in the world. But, there is starting to be increasing backlash against the open office space. I came across the article below in Fortune that details some of the negatives of having an open work space. Certain companies rely … Continue reading The Slow Death of the Private Office

Categories Recent Transactions

Learnvest Leases Office Space at SkySong II

Congratulations to LearnVest, Inc. on their new space in SkySong II at 1375 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 310! LearnVest empowers everyone to take control of their personal finances by providing expert advice and resources, and financial plans that fit your budget.

Categories Narrative

Top 20 Most Unusual, Unique And Exotic Buildings of the World

Valued Customer–In my pursuit to provide the most informative narrative of office buildings, space, representation, and in general, interesting articles, I never thought I would be sending something with buildings in the shape of a shoe, a piano, and a picnic basket. Well, I am and here they are below – the “Top 20 Most Unusual, Unique and Exotic Buildings of the … Continue reading Top 20 Most Unusual, Unique And Exotic Buildings of the World