2013 was a ground breaking year for Tactix—literally. We were fortunate to have handled many of the largest, most high profile real estate transactions in the region for some of the most respected companies in the country. In several instances, the solutions were not the obvious ones or the ones that were initially contemplated. Sometimes the right real estate solution requires that you change the landscape, not merely rearrange it.
This year, we represented FMC Corporation on its 250,000sf world headquarters transaction. FMC will anchor the new, 47 story FMC Tower at Cira Centre South being developed by Brandywine Realty Trust at 29th and Walnut Streets. It will be the 6th tallest building in the City and the tallest west of the Schuylkill River. Only three new office towers have gone up in the City east of 30th Street since the early 1990s (excluding the GSK expansion at Franklin Plaza). Tactix has represented the anchor tenants kicking off two of them.
We continued our work with Shire Pharmaceuticals on its 400,000sf plus regional headquarters project — one of the largest in the region.
In another ground breaking transaction, Tactix assisted Franklin Square Capital Partners, one of the country’s fastest growing investment management companies, with their new 80,000sf headquarters building that will be constructed by Liberty Property Trust at the Navy Yard and is scheduled to open in 2015.
Elsewhere in the City, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, another Tactix client, moved into their new 80,000sf headquarters in the old Lit Brothers Building at 701 Market Street. We expanded the Savitz Organization to over 30,000sf at 1845 Walnut Street and renewed CDI Corporation for over 20,000sf at Three Logan.
Moving out to the suburbs, we represented Mercy Health Systems in renewing and renovating their 80,000sf headquarters on West Elm Street in Conshohocken. We worked with Philadelphia icon, Safeguard Scientifics, as well as TL Ventures on their lease renewals in Devon Park. We guided NuPathe on their relocation from Conshohocken into 20,000sf at 7 Great Valley.
In January, West Pharmaceuticals took possession of their beautiful, new 172,000sf headquarters and laboratory facility which we structured for them in Eagleview, Chester County.
In Delaware, we had to get very creative with Incyte Corporation, a dynamic pharmaceutical company. With no acceptable, existing office buildings, and new construction being too costly, we structured a deal to repurpose a former Wanamakers retail location into a 190,000sf office and laboratory facility. We also represented CSC Corporation on their new 200,000-250,000sf headquarters building which will be developed at the corner of Centerville Road and Route 48. This was one of the most complicated transactions in the region involving expertise in multiple disciplines. We also were proud to work with DuPont Capital for the first time on the renewal and renovation of their 54,000sf lease at 1 Righter Parkway.
We continued to grow our vast law firm practice, representing the region’s top environmental boutique firm, Manko Gold, on their new 23,000sf LEED offices at 401 City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd; Feldman Shepherd on their new 18,000sf offices at 1845 Walnut Street, and Raynes McCarty on their lease renewal and renovations also at 1845 Walnut Street. We also represented Goldberg, Miller and Hollstein Keating Cattell Johnson & Goldstein, among others, on their lease transactions.
In 2013 we strengthened our commitment to the City as well as to the region’s non-profit community. Two of our professionals were appointed by Mayor Nutter to his Facilities Task Force. The Task Force developed strategies and recommendations for the City to manage and consume real estate in a more cost effective manner (credit derek). We continued to represent many of the area’s most respected and impactful, non-profit organizations including the Food Trust, Cradles to Crayons, Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia and the Support Center for Child Advocates.
We welcomed some new members to the Tactix family: Jenny Staples, Jenn Stauffer and Pat Marshall, as we became the largest tenant only representation firm in the region.
In sum, 2013 was an amazing year for Tactix and our clients. We started out in 1997 with an ambitious goal of creating a very different and better type of real estate brokerage firm. As we look back on what we have accomplished and the companies we have partnered with this past year, it seems clear that we were on to something.
We wish you all a very joyous and healthy holiday season and a very happy New Year.
For more information contact Glenn Blumenfeld