Still a Staple of Austin’s Skyline: After Two Decades, Frost Bank Tower Still Stands Tall In Every Way

You know you’re an Austin icon when you regularly grace the Austin City Limits stage.

Frost Bank Tower, with its striking art deco design resembling an owl at its peak, remains one of the most iconic additions to Austin’s skyline two decades after it was built. And in business terms, it’s still one of the darlings of the skyline even though many other office towers have risen since. Many say the tower marked a new standard for downtown office buildings, pushing developers to design more intentional and interesting towers compared to the concrete boxes that cropped up previously.

Right now, the 33-story tower’s occupancy rate of 95% is beating downtown’s average occupancy of 78% as clocked by CoStar, according to Travis Dunaway, principal with Endeavor Real Estate Group. Such a rate is the envy of many office land- lords who have been burdened by a record glut of empty space citywide.

 

Tenant turnover soon

Taking up almost all of the 535,078 square feet in Frost are big-name ten- ants such as PIMCO, Vista Equity Partners, Frost Bank, Ernst & Young, Reed Smith, Amherst, Maxwell Locke & Ritter and more. But change is afoot, said Anne Swift, principal with Endeavor Real Estate Group, which handles leasing at Frost. Soon, a quarter of its office space will be up for grabs as Kirkland & Ellis and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP leave the tower and migrate down Fourth Street to the under-construction Republic office tower. Vista Equity has committed to move out within the next few years.

As things stand, there’s 26,961 square feet available to lease in the tower, but in late 2025 an additional 124,750 square feet will hit the market. Frost’s floor plates range from 18,000 to 27,000 square feet, so there’s only about a single floor of space available for direct lease.

With its current vacancy rate of only 5%, Frost is on par with the new- er office stock built post-2014. Of 15 class A office buildings built since 2014, vacancy rates largely range from 0% to 15%, with three outliers ranging from 28% to 50% and a fourth, Innovation Tower, with 100% vacancy, according to Aquila Commercials’ third-quarter 2024 market report.

What’s clear is that Frost is per- forming much better than the majority of older office buildings down- town. Across 13 downtown office buildings built prior to 2014 — mostly from the early 1960s to the early 2000s — about 1.8 million square feet of space was available for direct lease in the third quarter, or about 31% of those buildings. Frost has faced some stiff competition for tenants in recent years — longtime prized tenants Heritage Title Company and the Winstead PC law firm recently moved to newer towers, touting their amenities and floor plans. But the building also can be a victim of its own success.

“The downside of being 95%-plus leased often means you can’t easily grow an existing growing tenant,” Dunaway said. “Vista Equity and Kirkland & Ellis are examples, as each needed more than double their existing footprints, which Frost Tower simply could not accommodate.”

 

Keeping up with the Joneses

A lot of the success in leasing the tower is the result of its features and amenities. “Building features that we all expect and take for granted today, like perfect column spacing, floor- to-ceiling glass, expansive ceilings, ample onsite parking, and executive level amenities like expansive conference and fitness centers — Frost Tower was delivering on par with today’s newest buildings, but 22-plus years ago,” said Costa Petrunoff, Managing Director of Investments at DivcoWest, the tower’s asset manager.

 

And those features have been continually updated throughout the tower’s life. The most recent lobby and amenity renovations, designed by Elliot March of London-based March and White Designs, began in 2020 and were completed in 2022.

“I’ll still never forget seeing the sauna in Frost Tower for the first time,” Dunaway said. “Frost Tower was pioneering on so many levels, which has allowed it to remain relevant and coveted, even today. But don’t mistake any of this for complacency. There is not a common area surface, amenity, or security feature within Frost Tower that hasn’t been redesigned or renovated within the past three years, ensuring Frost Tower’s future.”

Amenities at the tower include a 5,500-square-foot fitness club, lounge, conference facility, full-ser- vice bank, executive parking and on-site retail. Those retail options have been a draw for tenants. Houndstooth Coffee, Juiceland, SoulCycle, Modern Market and One Taco are on the ground level.

The tower has also received a number of recent designations and certifications putting it on par with new- er office stock. In the sustainability realm, it received a LEED Gold certification in 2019 and was Energy Star certified in 2008. For connectivity, the tower received a Wired Score Platinum designation, the highest ranking available. Finally, for health and wellness, Frost has received a Fit Well 2-star rating, scoring a 99 out of 100 in the walkability category and a 97 out of 100 for the biking category.

All of this combined — the tower’s unique design, its impressive tenant mix, the continual updates and the available amenities — have ensured that Frost Bank Tower remains an important part of downtown’s sky- line and economy, and could ensure the tower remains iconic for decades to come.

“Timeless is an overused adjective when describing architectural designs or finishes,” said Dunaway. “By definition though, Frost Tower is as timeless as it gets. Twenty years from today, that unmistakable crown lit up at night and as the backdrop of Austin City Limits stage, Frost Tower will still be unmistakably Austin. Who else can really say that?”

 

How the building was born

The tower’s story began in November 2001 when it became one of the first high-rise office buildings to break ground in the United States after 9/11, said Tim Hendricks, senior vice president and managing director at Cous- ins Properties Inc., the tower’s developer and original owner. It’s now owned by California State Teachers Retirement System.

“It was really very exciting,” Hendricks said of starting construction so soon after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. “The subtractors, the general contractors, the supplier — everybody kind of rallied around Frost Bank Tower.”

At that time, Austin was seen as more of a sleepy college town and state capital, and a new tower was an avenue to help it evolve into more of a business community. When Cousins first began looking at developing Frost, the developer realized that newer, modern office towers hadn’t been built downtown since the 1980s, Hendricks said.

“If somebody’s going to do a new, marquee, iconic tower, why wouldn’t it be us?” he said. And when it came time to design the building, Hendricks said the driving force was an intentional effort to develop the city’s most iconic tower.

One of the major iconic features of Frost, which was designed by Turan Duda of Duda Paine Architects, is the building’s crown, which resembles an owl. Hendricks dispelled the long-standing urban legend that the resemblance was an intentional design choice by a Rice University graduate, but did say the crown, which lights up the skyline at night and is constructed of multiple layers of glass, was key to helping stretch the tower out so it resembles a taller point tower instead of a more squat, boxy building.

Cousins paid $13.8 million in 2001 for the tower’s 1.7-acre site. The site’s appraised value is now about $336 million, according to Travis County.

 

STORY BY BY CODY BAIRD • [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE CREANEY • [email protected]

DivcoWest Doubles Presence in Downtown Austin With Addition of 1.8MSF Commercial Portfolio

Portfolio to be managed for institutional investor consists of 3 marquee assets including iconic Frost Tower

AUSTIN, TX – November 25, 2024 — DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, has been selected by a major institutional investor to manage and oversee three marquee commercial properties totaling 1.8 million square feet (s.f.) in Austin.

The transaction doubles DivcoWest’s portfolio in the Texas capital, making it one of the largest commercial office landlords in downtown Austin, one of the country’s most popular commercial real estate markets.

The buildings DivcoWest will operate are:

  • Frost Tower, an iconic 533,000 s.f., 33-story Class A office tower, with first-class amenities and an elite roster of tenants, at 401 Congress Avenue;
  • 300 West 6th Street, a modern, dynamic 454,000 s.f., 23-story Class A office tower with LEED Gold designation and large 30,000 s.f. floor plates;
  • Plaza Saltillo, a 10-acre mixed-use property in East Austin with 153,000 s.f. of office, 118,000 s.f. of retail, including Whole Foods and Target stores, and 703 high-end apartment residences.

“We’re honored to be selected as a strategic partner and steward these three marquee properties in a market we’ve operated in for many years and know exceptionally well,” said Gregg Walker, President of DivcoWest Real Estate Asset Management (DREAM). “We look forward to working closely with our partners in the downtown brokerage community as well as with existing and prospective tenants to deliver a quality 24-hour lifestyle environment for Austinites,” Walker added.

DivcoWest has owned and operated commercial properties in the Austin market for nearly twenty years and is currently involved in two major downtown developments: The Republic, an 833,000 s.f. prime office tower at 401 West 4th Street, and Sixth and Guadalupe, a 1 million s.f. state-of-the-art office and residential tower.

DivcoWest also owns properties at 2010 East 6th Street and Bouldin Creek at 2043 South Lamar Boulevard, where it maintains a corporate office.

The Republic Gains Another Full-Floor Tenant and Reaches Final Level in Austin

Pillsbury, a global law firm, signs deal for 28,000 square feet at the 48-story office building, bringing the tower to 50% leased.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (Nov. 21, 2024) – Co-developers Lincoln Property Company (“Lincoln”), Phoenix Property Company and DivcoWest have secured a lease  with global law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (“Pillsbury”) for 28,000 square feet  at The Republic, a world-class office development located at 401 W. 4th St. in Downtown Austin.

Construction at The Republic recently reached the 48th and final floor and the tower will reach its full height of approximately 700 feet in January, when the building’s crown is placed, making it the tallest pure office building in the city. The Republic remains on track to open in mid-2025.

Pillsbury is one of the world’s foremost law firms advising technology companies and their investors, representing clients ranging from entrepreneurs and startups to the largest public and private companies. The firm also handles substantial work for clients in the energy and natural resources, financial, life sciences and digital health, real estate and construction, and other dynamic industries.

Pillsbury first opened in Austin in 2014 to serve the legal needs of the accelerating Texas technology market. The office has since grown to include more than 30 lawyers and more than 50 total employees, and plays a critical role in Pillsbury’s integrated technology platform, which connects with Silicon Valley, New York, London, Northern Virginia, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and other global markets that are important to the sector.

Pillsbury’s new lease of the entire 32nd floor of the landmark Austin building continues the firm’s expansion in Texas, following closely on the firm’s recent move to new space in Houston. At The Republic, Pillsbury joins law firms Kirkland & Ellis LLP and O’Melveny & Myers LLP, along with Austin-based Vista Equity Partners.

“We’re excited to relocate into The Republic, which offers a prime location, top-line amenities and an overall more modern environment that better aligns with our sophisticated clients,” said Pillsbury’s Austin office managing partner Ed Cavazos. “This move reflects our commitment to Austin, our people here, and the many exciting tech companies that call this city home.”

“Many professional services companies view their workspace as key to attracting and retaining top talent,” said Lincoln Executive Vice President Seth Johnston. “The Republic is a next-generation office building, offering amenities at a scale and level of quality that’s unlike anything else in Austin today.”

The entire 19th floor at The Republic will feature an amenity space designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, including 25,000 square feet of indoor space with conference rooms, a fitness center and spin room, a club room with a lounge and bar, as well as a 25,000-square-foot landscaped terrace covered by architectural shade canopies. The Republic will also feature nearly 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, including three restaurant spaces, and a 20,000-square-foot public plaza with an outdoor bar.

“The downtown Austin market continues to be one of the most popular office markets in the country, demonstrating strong resiliency, optimism, and growth across the board thanks to a diversified and dynamic tenant base,” said Mike Provost, Senior Managing Director & Southwest Regional Head of Investments at DivcoWest.

Designed by Duda Paine Architects, the 816,560-square-foot office building will offer sweeping views of Lady Bird Lake and a direct connection to Republic Square Park, the building’s historic namesake. In addition to being the only building that opens to a full block of park space in the Central Business District, every office floor of The Republic will include a private terrace.

A true next-generation office building, The Republic emphasizes the health and wellness of tenants and guests by incorporating touchless access technology, enhanced air-filtration systems, and the pursuit of, WELL Health-Safety Rating, LEED Gold Certification.

DivcoWest Embraces AI Revolution With New Investments Into Emerging Real Estate Technologies

SAN FRANCISCO – [August 19, 2024] – DivcoWest, a vertically-integrated real estate company headquartered at the heart of Silicon Valley, reaffirmed its commitment to bringing innovative solutions to customers, partners, and investors through a series of investments into cutting-edge AI companies poised to transform real estate and construction.

Made through DivcoWest Ventures, a unit of the firm focused on early- and growth-stage technology companies with the potential to shape the future of the urban environment, these investments underscore DivcoWest’s continued efforts to invest in, and adopt, technology which enhances its unique platform and benefits the entire real estate ecosystem.

Just last week, DivcoWest Ventures reinvested in its portfolio company EliseAI, as part of a $75M Series D fundraise. EliseAI is the largest and most advanced conversational AI platform in the residential real estate industry. The company’s automation tools manage communications 24 hours a day, seven days a week between potential and current renters across multiple channels (such as, SMS, email, phone, and webchat) and automates property workflows.

DivcoWest Ventures’ recent investments also include:

  • Field Materials is an AI procurement platform for contractors to control and verify construction material and equipment spending. Its web and mobile apps streamline material purchasing and equipment rentals by eliminating manual data entry for quotes, invoices, packing slips, and receipts, and saving 5-10% in material costs by automatically identifying billing errors.
  • Flexnode is a leading-edge digital infrastructure company reimagining the built environment through bespoke and immersive design, efficient DFMA-centric construction, and advanced operation of high performance, liquid cooling-enabled micro data centers.

Commenting on the recent investments, Breton Birkhofer, Managing Director, said: “These investments represent our unwavering commitment to embracing AI and its transformational potential in the real estate sector. By supporting these companies, we’re not just investing in valuable technology – we are investing in a more successful and sustainable future for our industry. As AI continues to evolve, we are excited to invest in and nurture the most promising technologies that can benefit the communities we serve.”

DivcoWest Ventures has previously invested in more than two dozen proptech and climate tech companies operating in the U.S. and Canada. These portfolio companies include Matterport, an AI-driven spatial data company which allows users to easily create digital twins of assets in the built world, and Metropolis, an AI and computer vision startup built to modernize the parking experience by enabling “checkout-free” payment for drivers and revenue-generating operations for real estate owners.

For more on DivcoWest Ventures, see: https://divcowest.com/ventures/

 

About DivcoWest  

Founded in 1993 by Stuart Shiff, DivcoWest is a vertically integrated, real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Cambridge, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Washington DC, Austin, and New York City. Known for long-standing relationships and experience across the risk-spectrum in innovation markets, DivcoWest combines entrepreneurial spirit with an institutional approach to commercial real estate. DivcoWest aims to create environments that inspire ingenuity, promote growth, and enhance health and well-being. Since inception, DivcoWest and its predecessor have acquired approximately 61 million square feet of commercial space – primarily throughout the United States. DivcoWest’s real estate portfolio currently includes existing and development properties in the office, R&D, lab, industrial, retail, and multifamily spaces. www.divcowest.com

Conrad Prebys Foundation Signs Lease for 19,000 Square Feet at DivcoWest’s Kettner & Ash Building in San Diego’s Little Italy

San Diego – June 27, 2024 – DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, and its partner Ocean West Capital Partners LLC, announced that the Conrad Prebys Foundation, a $1.2 billion San Diego-based nonprofit, signed a lease for a full floor at Kettner & Ash, in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Derek Hulse and Morgan Reno of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord.

Kettner & Ash is a 123,000 s.f. fully modernized midrise office building at 1420 Kettner Boulevard. DivcoWest and Ocean West purchased the building in late 2017, becoming only the second owners in the last 63 years. They immediately began an extensive Gensler-designed renovation including a contemporary façade with an energy-efficient clear glass wall curtain.

Prebys Foundation is the sixth tenant to call the building home under the new owners. In October 2018, co-working specialist Spaces signed a long-term lease for three floors totaling 43,540 s.f. Boston-based general contractor Suffolk Construction, HR software provider Paycom, national architect Perkins & Will, and Birdrock Coffee Roasters have also signed.

Kettner & Ash is in an attractive location for tenants as it sits in the popular Little Italy neighborhood and is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and other lifestyle amenities. The building itself features a large atrium-style lobby with a 5-story LED screen displaying digital artwork. Kettner & Ash also offers tenants an expansive event patio on the third floor with indoor and outdoor seating, entertainment space, and a dedicated kitchen. The building provides tenants with spa-quality locker rooms with showers.

Major Tenant joins DivcoWest’s Sand Hill Collection (SHC), a Resort-Inspired Workplace Redefining Sand Hill Road

Sand Hill Collection / 2400 Sand Hill Road

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) will benefit from new amenities and improvements implemented at SHC over the last 4 years.

Menlo Park, CA – [June 26, 2024] – Sand Hill Road is more than a roadway; it has been the epicenter of venture capital and innovation since visionary developer Tom Ford established it more than 50 years ago. The Sand Hill Collection (SHC), comprising 48 acres and three distinct campuses, is the pinnacle of workplace destinations on this legendary road, thanks to the long-term vision and investment capital of owner, DivcoWest.

Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z, leased 34,390 square feet of newly redeveloped space at 2400-2450 Sand Hill Road in The Quad, one of three campuses within the Sand Hill Collection, which also includes The Ranch and The Grove. The buildings are currently being tailored through tenant improvements, with plans to move in sometime in 2026.

“We are thrilled to welcome a16z. Their innovative approach to investing in the future makes them the perfect addition to SHC’s community of forward-thinkers and trailblazers,’ said Gregg Walker, President of DivcoWest Real Estate Asset Management (DREAM). “We believe that a16z will not only enrich SHC’s vibrant community but also reinforce the Sand Hill Collection as a hub for transformative ideas and dynamic partnerships.”

A Campus Within a Campus

The two newly constructed two-story buildings leased to a16z were designed to deliver a “campus within a campus” experience. The design seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, connected by a spacious private courtyard and featuring lush outdoor patios. This setup offers a16z options for al fresco work, meetings, and events.

In addition, the interiors of the buildings have been thoughtfully redesigned to allow for customizable workspaces that are filled with natural light and offer flexibility with a variety of areas for collaboration.

SHC Member Benefits

As a newly minted member of the Sand Hill Collection, a16z will enjoy all the benefits SHC provides across 3 hospitality-driven campuses. This includes access to the Sand Hill Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant at The Quad and the recently opened Sand Hill Sundeck at The Ranch, a multi-faceted restaurant that features a full-service modern eatery, a gourmet delicatessen and market, and a large sun deck for happy hours and social gatherings. Members also enjoy access to 3 newly renovated fitness centers, complimentary personal training sessions, and a variety of classes including yoga and boot camp. The health and wellness amenities continue with numerous walking, biking and running trails meandering through the 48-acre community which also includes an outdoor basketball court.

“DivcoWest’s vision for the Sand Hill Collection goes beyond traditional office space. Inspired by hospitality-driven environments, our focus is on creating a workplace promoting well-being, innovation, and collaboration. This human-centric approach is evident in every facet of the offerings we provide from the array of on-site eateries and social spaces to the workspaces themselves. We continue to find new ways to expand on the amenities and services that cater to our members,” Walker says.

DivcoWest acquired the 26 buildings that now make up Sand Hill Collection in two transactions in 2011 and 2020. The Collection represents approximately 45% of the total office inventory on Sand Hill Road, a stretch of road that cuts through Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Woodside and is home to several leading firms in the global economy. SHC offers full building spaces suitable for headquarters locations as well as smaller suites suitable as satellite or executive offices.

a16z was represented by brokers Hugh Scott and Derek Johnson of JLL in negotiating their lease. Christian Prelle, Brad Van Linge, Sarah Bohannon, and Clayton Jones of Newmark represented DivcoWest.

New Dining Experience, Sand Hill Sundeck, Brings Elevated and Gourmet Offerings to Menlo Park

The latest restaurant addition to DivcoWest’s Sand Hill Collection  pays homage to the past and offers a fusion of signature northern Californian dishes, reimagined pizza and deli classics, and sun-filled happy hours. 

Menlo Park, CA (June 21, 2024)San Francisco-based DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital Company, in partnership with Bon Appétit Management Company, is proud to announce the opening of Sand Hill Sundeck, a new multi-faceted restaurant concept located in the heart of The Ranch campus within the Sand Hill Collection (“SHC”). Set high on the crest of Sand Hill Road, and unlike any other restaurant in the area, the Sand Hill Sundeck pays tribute to the original Sundeck restaurant on Sand Hill Road by Tom Ford, a central figure in the emergence of Menlo Park as the center of Silicon Valley investment capital and delivers a modern and sophisticated dining experience. Guests at the Sundeck will experience a new menu that draws inspiration from the classic traditions of an East Coast delicatessen with San Francisco’s iconic Italian North Beach favorites. 

Originally a power lunch spot of the 70s for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, the reimagined Sand Hill Sundeck today delivers three distinct experiences in the same premier location at 3000 Sand Hill Road including a full-service modern eatery with an elevated lunch menu drawing inspiration from the Bay Area’s seasonal ingredients, a gourmet deli and boutique market for on-the-go options, and for those who want to enjoy the beautiful California weather, a large sun deck that will be the perfect spot for happy hours, lunches to go, and social gatherings.  

As you enter Sand Hill Sundeck you are greeted by a laid back, yet upscale, New York deli style counter and market with California affluence where you can order to go artisanal sandwiches made with premium meats and cheeses, hand-tossed pizzas, farm-to-table composed salads, and gourmet goods. The interior seamlessly makes its way to a seated dine-in area touting modern luxury and offers an ideal place for business lunches and casual get togethers with homemade pastas and pizzas, thoughtfully composed sandwiches, small plates, and more. The spacious outdoor deck, its namesake, welcomes a relaxed vibe with a fire pit and seating areas to soak up the Bay Area sunshine and enjoy a variety of signature dishes, craft beers, and a selection of fine wines. 

“We’re excited to bring this new concept to Menlo Park,” said DivcoWest’s Associate Director of Brand Experience, Marina Encinias. “The Sundeck has a great history and we wanted to preserve that while creating a new and special space where people could gather for any occasion, whether it’s a private business lunch, a quick snack, or a leisurely happy hour with friends. This creative combination of offerings is unique to the area and positions the Sand Hill Sundeck at SHC as a sought-after destination for those near and far.” 

DivcoWest has once again partnered with the award-winning food service provider, Bon Appétit Management Company, and Culinary Director Nicolai Tuban, who also oversees culinary operations at Sand Hill Kitchen at SHC, to deliver another great offering within the Sand Hill Collection. Together, the teams developed the culinary vision for the Sand Hill Sundeck, inspired by the variety and nostalgia of the NY market deli experience, the exclusivity and upscale feel of a supper club, and the chill California vibe of the outdoors.  

“What I want to bring to Sand Hill Road with the Sundeck is that delicious, exploratory energy of the deli while using the world’s pantry in a really creative way,” says Tuban. “I want you to be able to see the ingredients and what we’re doing, want you to be able to see the chefs cooking on the line, want you to see people slicing prosciutto. Then you can take that perfect creation out to the patio and enjoy it in the incomparable California sun. The Sand Hill Sundeck is a celebration of the Bay Area, from a Bay Area guy.” 

 

Culinary Director Nicolai Tuban shares his vision of Sand Hill Sundeck. 

The fresh and innovative menu will feature composed salads, sandwiches, house-made pastas & pizzas, and farm-to-fork entrées, including reimagined classic deli favorites including: 

House-made Pastrami with western Chinese spice, hot mustard, on rye
As a Reuben with Swiss, carrot kraut & black garlic Russian dressing

Mortadella with burrata, arugula, pistachio pesto, peppers, on focaccia

Melted Artichoke Pappardelle with lots of lemon, makrut lime,
garlic confit & pecorino fonduta

Lamb Burger with western Chinese spice, whipped feta, coriander,
ginger slaw, ma la, & house chips

San Gregoria Pizza with molinari coppa, fingerling potato, pistachio pesto, & sweet peppers

Baby Kale Caesar Salad with caper & pecorino dressing, dried lemon, frico, & rye crouton

Matzah-Masa Ball Soup with chicken & chile de arbol broth, carrot, dill & cilantro 

Sand Hill Sundeck is located within The Ranch at the Sand Hill Collection at 3000 Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park and will welcome the public from Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm for coffee service, lunch, and happy hour. 

 

To learn more, visit sandhillsundeck.com or follow along on Instagram @sandhillsundeck. 

High-resolution imagery is available here. Credit for all photos: Michelle K. Min. 

Even in a Tough LA Leasing Environment, DivcoWest Drives Office Occupancy at 5250 Lankershim

5250 Lankershim, acquired 60% leased by DivcoWest in 2021 and renovated in a weak market, now stands 92% occupied with a strong, synergistic tenant base

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 7, 2024 – 5250 Lankershim, a 9-story, LEED Gold office building in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District, is an example of how committed owners working with innovative landlord advisory teams can buck the trend of recent years and build leasing momentum.

DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, acquired the building in 2021 with 50,000 s.f. of vacancy in the 180,000 s.f. building. Partnering with Colliers, DivcoWest immediately began renovating the building’s common areas, inside and out, to create a hospitality-driven workplace destination with a welcoming indoor and outdoor environment that today’s tenants and employees desire. Through a thoughtful design approach, the team infused natural sunlight and open air into the lobby and used inviting soft seating and gathering spaces to create a relaxed, comfortable environment.

The improvements have quickly paid off. Recently, Chase Bank brought total occupancy to 92% by signing a lease for 5,500 s.f. on the ground floor. Chase followed Zeus Networks, an over-the-top streaming video subscription service; SameSky Health, a cultural experience company aiding health plans to engage with their patient audiences; and the LA campuses of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Visual and Performing Arts, into the revamped 5250 Lankershim.

DivcoWest and the leasing team from Colliers also created a separate ground floor entrance to accommodate clients visiting Kaiser Permanente, effectively providing a building within a building.

“We felt it important to be proactive in positioning 5250 Lankershim as a building where tenants and their employees would feel at home so creating a sense of place with a hospitality vibe was very important to us,” says Jared Crowley, DivcoWest. “This included the extensive improvements, the personal approach we took to prospective tenants and the service tenants receive from our property management team,” he added.

According to Anneke Greco of Colliers, “We were in lock-step with DivcoWest on making tours of the available spaces as experiential and personalized as possible and we received fantastic responses from prospective tenants.”

The personal touch carries on through building management. “Property manager James McIntyre is an integral part of what makes 5250 Lankershim stand out from other North Hollywood buildings,” says Crowley. “He is very responsive and tenant-focused, and he’s backed up by a tenant concierge to assist tenants whenever and wherever they need it. 5250 Lankershim really has the feel of a workplace hotel rather than an office building,” he added.

About DivcoWest
Founded in 1993 by Stuart Shiff, DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, is a vertically integrated real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Austin, Cambridge, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Washington DC, and New York City. Known for long-standing relationships and experience across the risk-spectrum in innovation markets, DivcoWest combines entrepreneurial spirit with an institutional approach to commercial real estate. DivcoWest aims to create environments that inspire ingenuity, promote growth, and enhance health and well-being. Since inception, DivcoWest and its predecessor have acquired approximately 61 million square feet of commercial space – primarily throughout the United States. DivcoWest’s real estate portfolio currently includes existing and development properties in the office, R&D, lab, industrial, retail, and multifamily spaces. www.divcowest.com

Global Law Firm Signs Lease in The Republic Office Tower

Scheduled to open in 2025, the 48-story office building is nearly 50% leased.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 29, 2024) – Co-developers Lincoln Property Company (LPC), Phoenix Property Company and DivcoWest are pleased to announce that the international law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP has signed a lease at The Republic, a 48-story office tower under construction in downtown Austin. The state-of-the-art tower broke ground in 2022 and is now nearly 50% leased, more than a year before it is scheduled to open in mid-2025.

O’Melveny is a premier global law firm with more than 800 lawyers in 18 offices across three continents. The Los Angeles-founded firm opened its first Texas office in Austin in 2021 and has continued to expand in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

“O’Melveny is continuing to expand our presence in the Texas market, and we’re delighted by the welcome we’ve received in the Lone Star State,” said Teresa Doremus, O’Melveny’s Managing Director of Global Operations and Real Estate. “Our new, modern, 28,000-square-foot space in The Republic will both accommodate our current Austin team and provide us with needed space for our anticipated growth.”

O’Melveny is the second global law firm to sign a lease in The Republic.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP has committed to occupy 137,000 square feet. Additionally, Austin-based Vista Equity Partners has leased 200,000 square feet.

“National and global professional services firms continue to expand in Austin, and The Republic provides the marquee location and best-in-class amenities these companies seek to help attract and retain top talent,” said LPC Executive Vice President Seth Johnston.

Designed by Duda Paine Architects, The Republic will offer sweeping views of Lady Bird Lake and a direct connection to Republic Square Park – the building’s historic namesake. In addition to being the only building that opens to a full block of park space in the Central Business District, every office floor of The Republic will feature a 750 square foot private terrace, further connecting tenants to Austin’s distinctive outdoor lifestyle.

“We’re delighted with leasing momentum achieved at this point in the construction timeline at The Republic,” said DivcoWest Managing Director, Costa Petrunoff. “The ‘flight to trophy’ trend is evident as tenants seek out the quality and prestige of this state-of-the-art tower. The building’s design, including the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture-designed amenities, has attracted tenants who are drawn to the seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces.”

Ground-level elements in the building will include a 20,000 square foot public plaza with an outdoor bar and 16,585 square feet of ground floor retail space. Drawing in the outdoors throughout the building, the 19th-floor amenity level boasts more than 50,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor space, including conference rooms, fitness center and spin room, club room with a lounge and bar, and a 25,000 square foot outdoor terrace covered by architectural shade canopies.

The designers emphasized the health and wellness of the office tenants and guests by incorporating touchless access technology, enhanced air-filtration systems, and the pursuit of WELLv2 Core Certification, WELL Health-Safety Rating, LEED Gold Certification, and Austin Energy Green Building Program. Additionally, those who commute by bike will have access to a private elevator, which will take them directly to secure storage for nearly 350 bicycles, as well as a spa-quality locker room and showers.

ABOUT DIVCOWEST
Founded in 1993 by Stuart Shiff, DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, is a vertically integrated, real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Austin, Cambridge, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Washington DC, and New York City. Known for long-standing relationships and experience across the risk-spectrum in innovation markets, DivcoWest combines entrepreneurial spirit with an institutional approach to commercial real estate. DivcoWest aims to create environments that inspire ingenuity, promote growth, and enhance health and well-being. Since inception, DivcoWest and its predecessor have acquired approximately 61 million square feet of commercial space – primarily throughout the United States. DivcoWest’s real estate portfolio currently includes existing and development properties in the office, R&D, lab, industrial, retail, and multifamily spaces. www.divcowest.com

ABOUT LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY
Lincoln Property Company (“Lincoln”) is one of the largest private real estate firms in the United States. Offering a fully integrated platform of real estate services and innovative solutions to owners, investors, lenders and occupiers, Lincoln supports the entire real estate lifecycle across asset types, including office, life science, retail, industrial, data center, production studio, healthcare, government, universities, and mixed-used properties, throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. Lincoln’s combined management and leasing portfolio on behalf of institutional clients includes more than 510 million square feet of commercial space. In addition to providing third-party real estate services, Lincoln has completed over 150 million square feet of development since its inception in 1965 and has another $20 billion currently under construction or in the pipeline. For more information, visit: www.lpc.com.

ABOUT O’MELVENY
It’s more than what you do: it’s how you do it. Across sectors and borders, in board rooms and courtrooms, we measure our success by yours. And in our interactions, we commit to making your O’Melveny experience as satisfying as the outcomes we help you achieve. Our greatest accomplishment is ensuring that you never have to choose between premier lawyering and exceptional service. So, tell us. What do you want to achieve? Visit us at www.omm.com; read our Insights 2024 report; learn more in our firm at-a-glance; and find us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

ABOUT PHOENIX PROPERTY COMPANY
Phoenix Property Company (PPC), formed in 1994, is a nationally recognized, diversified real estate company with developments and investments in major cities across the United States. Blake Pogue and Jason Runnels are the original principals. Noted for its extensive track record in developing award-winning multifamily and mixed-use communities on in-fill and urban sites, Phoenix has gained a reputation for recognizing emerging neighborhoods and creating iconic properties that encourage additional growth and revitalization. Phoenix also works with universities in evaluating their current and future real estate needs, and develops and owns college student housing communities in multiple cities. Since its inception, PPC and the affiliated GrandMarc have developed residential and mixed-use communities with a construction cost of over $1 billion. For more information please visit www.phoenixpropertyco.com.

LoanCore & DivcoWest Promote Executive to Further Strengthen its DivCore Capital Platform & NYC Hub

Chad Jones Steps into New Role as Head of Investments, Eastern Region for DivCore Capital.

New York, NY (April 8, 2024) — LoanCore Capital, a commercial real estate lending firm located in Greenwich, CT, and DivcoWest, a vertically integrated real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, CA, are pleased to announce the promotion of Chad Jones to Head of Eastern Region Investments for their unified investment platform, DivCore Capital. Chad, who will be based in DivCore’s New York City office, previously served as Head of East Coast Originations for LoanCore. In his new position, he will play a pivotal role in solidifying New York as one of DivCore’s East Coast hubs further unifying its Real Estate Debt and Equity subsidiaries (LoanCore Capital and DivcoWest, respectively).

“We are thrilled to announce Chad’s promotion to Head of Investments for the Eastern Region. With his vast experience in commercial real estate lending and investments across various property types and markets, as well as his expertise in complex deal structuring, we are confident that he will be instrumental in driving DivCore’s continued success not only in the Eastern Region but also nationally.” said Mark Finerman, CEO of LoanCore and Co-CEO of DivCore Capital. “We look forward to leveraging Chad’s strong leadership skills to drive continued growth for DivCore and to maximize value for our investors.”

About DivCore
Formed in 2012 DivCore Capital, is the unification of DivcoWest, an equity focused investment firm which began operations in 1993 led by Stuart Shiff and LoanCore Capital which focuses on credit investments and was founded in 2008 led by Mark Finerman with a combined AUM of $32.5 billion. Through the unification of these two commercial real estate investment firms, DivCore’s vertically integrated team of over 225 professionals brings over 30 years of real estate investment and capital markets expertise across market conditions and credit cycles and the experience and skills to invest across all asset types and up and down the capital structure. DivCore’s success is driven by longstanding relationships with clients, deep market and industry knowledge, long term presence in key innovation markets, and the ability to provide creative debt and equity real estate solutions in an ever-evolving market.
www.divcore.com

About LoanCore
Founded in 2008 by Mark Finerman, LoanCore Capital, a DivCore Capital company, is a real estate lender and investor with a credit-focused asset management platform and is headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with offices in Palm Beach, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. LoanCore is a trusted multidisciplinary holder of subordinate risk through fixed and floating originations, generally levered with fixed rate CMBS, floating rate CLOs and warehouse lines underwritten to be held to term. Since inception, LoanCore has funded in excess of $31 billion across more than 950 transactions.
www.loancore.com

About DivcoWest
Founded in 1993 by Stuart Shiff, DivcoWest, a DivCore Capital company, is a vertically integrated real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Austin, Cambridge, Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Washington DC, and New York City. Known for long-standing relationships and experience across the risk-spectrum in innovation markets, DivcoWest combines entrepreneurial spirit with an institutional approach to commercial real estate. DivcoWest aims to create environments that inspire ingenuity, promote growth, and enhance health and well-being. Since inception, DivcoWest and its predecessor have acquired approximately 61 million square feet of commercial space – primarily throughout the United States. DivcoWest’s real estate portfolio currently includes existing and development properties in the office, R&D, lab, industrial, retail, and multifamily spaces. www.divcowest.com