PwC Signs Long-Term Lease for 150,000 Additional Square Feet

MetWest Two – home of PwC

Four years after Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP moved into a 250,000 square foot build-to-suit at MetWest International the company has leased an additional 150,000 square feet to anchor a new 10-story office building. The Big Four assurance, tax, and advisory firm has signed a long-term lease with MetLife for approximately 150,000 square feet at MetWest International, an award-winning mixed-use development located in Tampa’s Westshore Business District.

MetLife will break ground on the 250,000 square foot office building in first quarter 2018 on a site adjacent to PwC’s existing office building. An additional 100,000 square feet will be available for lease at the new building to be named MetWest Three.

“The new space reflects growth for PwC in Tampa over the next five to 10 years,” said Joe Killian, managing partner of PwC’s shared services center in Tampa. PwC is one of the area’s largest employers with 3,000 employees. The new space will accommodate growth in PwC’s assurance and tax departments with an additional 350 hires anticipated. “PwC has grown its Tampa operations with experienced hires as well as recent college graduates, said Killian. “Tampa’s culture and weather are a big draw, especially for millennials. The MetWest development is really convenient to the airport, and the facilities itself are fantastic plus there are a lot of great restaurants for people to go to lunch or dinner,” said Killian.

PwC was represented by brokers Timothy Dempsey, Greg Maurer-Hollaender, and William Obregon of CBRE.  The project’s owner, MetLife was represented by Angela Odell, Cushman & Wakefield Senior Director of Brokerage Services.

“The central location in the Westshore area as well as the many high-quality amenities the development offers are strategic factors contributing to the success of MetWest,” said Chuck Davis, regional director of MetLife’s Southeast real estate office. MetWest International currently includes three office buildings totaling 743,000 square feet which are at 99% occupancy.  “The timing for new office space couldn’t be better, said Odell”.  “Westshore is at a historically low vacancy at around 10% with MetWest office space at 1% vacancy,” said Odell. Odell expects interest in the new building’s remaining 100,000 square feet to be brisk.

For more information read the Tampa Bay Business Journal article http://bizj.us/1pghs9

MetWest International is an award-winning, mixed-use center developed by MetLife. Located across from Tampa International Airport and International Plaza in the Westshore Business District, MetWest International includes three Gold LEED Certified office buildings; two multi-tenant buildings: One MetroCenter and MetWest One plus MetWest Two which is a build-to-suit for PwC. MetWest Three is expected to be completed in third quarter 2019 at which time PwC will expand into 150,000 square feet at the building with the remaining 100,000 square feet available for lease. Angela Odell, Cushman & Wakefield Senior Director Brokerage Services, will spearhead leasing efforts for the available space in the building.

MetWest International also includes a 175-room AC by Marriott hotel which opened in January 2018 and a 74,200 square foot retail village. Retailers include Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Kona Grill, Texas de Brazil, Del Frisco’s Grille, Thai Prime, Davidoff of Geneva Cigar & Lounge, GolfTEC, Blo Blow Dry Bar, The Bar Method, E*Trade and Beal Bank. A 28,000 square foot retail anchor site remains available for development.

The project has received four Best of the Best NAIOP awards, including Outstanding Green Building/Project, Outstanding Office Building (MetWest One) and Outstanding Retail Building. Other awards include The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Outstanding Project of the Year (MetWest One), The Greater Tampa Bay chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Office Building of the Year and the BOMA 360 Performance Building designation (One MetroCenter). Both MetWest One and One MetroCenter have achieved EPA Energy Star ratings. All three of the office buildings have received Gold LEED Certification by the US Green Building Council.  www.jakep45.sg-host.com