"We are committed to expanding our capabilities across the country and the addition of Bill Graham is another strong step in that direction," said Steve Van Amburgh, Koll's CEO and president.

Graham began his career with Coldwell Banker & Co. and then opened his own business. He is recognized as a pioneer in "entity financing," whereby pension funds were allowed to invest in real estate companies.

At Koll, Graham will focus on the company initiative to expand build-to-suit and corporate real estate services opportunities. "We have an arsenal of opportunities that will stretch beyond the normal approach to build-to-suit and build-to-sell (projects)," says Graham. He characterizes his approach as innovative and "more advantageous to the consumer."

Koll's Phoenix office has completed three projects, totaling 750,000 sf, in the past year. The firm currently is in negotiations for several build-to-suit projects for another 200,000 sf.

Koll also will be relocating its Phoenix office to Koll Arcadia Gateway, a recently completed 90,000-sf speculative office building at 4222 E. Thomas Rd. in Phoenix. Graham says the plan is to move the office as needed. This is not to say that the firm will move often, says Graham, but he wants to keep the office "untethered" to one location.