Corporate

Microsoft Corp., headquartered near Seattle in Redmond, has selected Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle to handle all new leases, terminations, and renewals for the software maker’s leased office space, which totals approximately eight million sf around the world. The contract to consolidate all leasing functions with Jones Lang LaSalle is expected to be worth $3- to $5-million annually to the real estate company. Microsoft’s headquarters and other space the company uses around Seattle are not included in the contract.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in December 2001. Designed by architect Rafael Vinoly, the $265-million facility features the 2,500-seat cello-shaped Verizon Hall with acoustics by Artec, Inc.  Housing 650 seats and a turntable stage, the Perelman Theater contains an all-weather indoor plaza for free performances, studio and rehearsal space, a cafe and restaurant, and a gift shop.  

National oil firm Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. has contracted Jung/Brannen to provide interior design work on its new 650,000-sf headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Deere & Co., based in Moline, Ill., moved into a 12,500-sf training facility in August at the Commonwealth Park II development in Morrisville, a short distance from Cary, N.C., where the company is building a new division headquarters. Three classrooms, three labs, a conference room plus some unfinished space will provide product training space for the company's employees. At build-out, the company's nearby Cary campus will house up to 2,000 employees.

 Answerthink Inc., a computer consulting company based in Miami, has plans for a new headquarters at O'Neill Properties Group's Millenium project. The facility, dubbed 'Technoplex', will accommodate a computer operations center, an advanced R&D facility, and space for training and educational activities. Approximately 180 employees will be employed at the new building.

Scott Adams, cartoon creator of the Dilbert comic strip, is working with design firm IDEO of San Francisco to develop “Dilbert’s Ultimate Cubicle”—an almost office-sized prototype for a workspace comprised of orange and white translucent plastic modules. The modules each perform a different function—file storage, cooler, coat hanger, fish tank—and could be configured by employees to create their own ideal workspace.

ARAMARK today announced that it has completed the acquisition of ServiceMaster Management Services, the facility services business of ServiceMaster.

Host Marriott has contracted architect OP-X of Washington to design its newly leased 67,000-sf office at Two Democracy Center in Bethesda. Host, a hotel real estate investment trust, plans to relocate its 250 employees in August 2002.

Magna-Lab opened a new 5,600-sf corporate headquarters in Lynnfield to provide support to its sales and marketing, R&D, engineering, and administrative staff. Magna-Lab Inc. develops products that increase MRI technology effectiveness.

Construction has begun on Britannia Corporate Center, a project being developed by Master Development Corporation of Newport Beach, Calif. Designed by Ware Malcomb of San Diego, the project site encompassed 15.9 acres in Otay Mesa. Britannia Corporate Center consists of six industrial distribution/manufacturing buildings totaling approximately 296,400 sf. The Aztec influenced design includes canted accent walls, extensive glazing at office area, ample dock-high loading doors and vehicle parking at 2.2/1000.

The Village of Schaumburg, Ill. has selected John Portman Associates (JP&A) as architect for the new $225 million Convention Center, Hotel and Performing Arts Center. JP&A will serve as the complex's master designer and planner, with HNTB Corporation as associate architect for the convention center and Daniel P. Coffey and Associates as associate architect for the performing arts center.

A $37 million renovation of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has been completed by Polshek Partnership Architects of New York. Reopening on October 15, 2001, the renovation unites all four Research Collections. The Unified Research Collections Reading Room features Low-E glass to protect the Library material. A new exhibition hall, the Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery, features an advanced track lighting system which provides both legibility and artifact protection.

Gensym's $1.9 million, 27,300-sf corporate redesign project in Burlington's Northwest Park was recently completed by Maugel Architects Inc. of Concord.

Acterna’s new 310,000-sf complex at Milestone Business Park in Germantown now has a second building under construction—a 130,000-sf structure designed by Hickok Warner Fox Architects to house office and manufacturing functions. Turner Construction is the builder. The first building is a 180,000-sf headquarters, which is also under construction. The 44-acre site provides space for 680,000 sf of office/industrial construction.