Executive Office of HHS Signs New 114,451 SF Lease in Quincy
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAM), has signed a new 114,451 rentable square foot lease for its Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) at HarborSouth Tower located at 100 Hancock Street in Quincy, Massachusetts. HHS, which includes the departments of MassHealth and other related entities, will occupy floors 4 through 8 of the building, a ten-story 204,750 square foot Class A office tower overlooking Boston Harbor and Quincy Bay .
The CB Richard Ellis team of Nat Kessler, First Vice President, and Ogden White , Senior Vice President/Partner, represented owner Griffith Properties in the transaction.
"After an extensive redevelopment of HarborSouth Tower , it's very rewarding to see our vision come to fruition and to attract new high-quality tenants like HHS," said Tod Brainard, Principal at Griffith Properties, LLC.
HHS joins MFS Investment Management (MFS) and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) as the third major tenant to relocate to HarborSouth Tower from Boston in the past three years. The leases signed by MFS and ACS marked the largest new leases signed in the Quincy/Braintree submarket in 2008 and 2009, respectively, and the 114,451 square foot lease signed by HHS is expected to be among the larger new leases signed in the Metro Boston market for 2010 as well. HHS will relocate departments from various locations throughout Boston .
Originally constructed in 1983, HarborSouth Tower was occupied for decades by Blue Cross/Blue Shield before it was acquired by Griffith Properties in 2007 just prior to Blue Cross/Blue Shield's relocation to owned assets in Quincy and Hingham. Griffith Properties completed the redevelopment of the property in 2008, which included a new lobby, new windows, an upgraded façade, new HVAC systems, a new multi-level parking deck, and a significant amenity package featuring a café, fitness center and shared conference facility.
The 10-story Class A building is also the only multitenant building south of Boston to receive LEED Silver Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. The property was awarded LEED Silver Core & Shell certification due to its energy efficiency, superior internal air quality, and abundant natural light on each floor. Additional building benefits associated with HarborSouth's LEED program include: MBTA shuttle service; drought tolerant plantings; preferred parking for fuel efficient cars and carpoolers; bicycle storage and showers; and significant recycling programs.
Griffith's acquisition and redevelopment of HarborSouth Tower was made in joint venture with the Urdang Value-Added Fund II, L.P. (the "Fund"). The private real estate fund is managed by Urdang Capital Management, Inc. based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania . Urdang is part of BNY Mellon Asset Management.
Commuting time from HarborSouth Tower to Boston 's South Station is less than 15 minutes from the nearby MBTA Red Line at North Quincy Station. HarborSouth Tower also enjoys views of the Boston Harbor and city skyline.
