The lease deal was announced by Cushman & Wakefield of Connecticut, which represented Michael Allen Co. in the deal. The transaction involved the firm's relocation from its former offices in Westport at 1 Gorham Island.

The Michael Allen Co. is a growth strategy management consulting firm founded in 1979 that serves clients such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, PepsiCo., Home Depot and Genentech. In September of last year, the firm's management conducted a successful buyout of the company from Panoramic Communications (formerly Earle Palmer Browne Co.) which had owned the firm for approximately three years.

Jay Hruska and Meredith Siburn of C&W represented Michael Allen in the transaction. Penny Wickey of Harbor Commercial Real Estate represented the building owner, Westport View Corporate Center LLC.

Hruska says the corporate headquarters relocation signals a new beginning for the firm which wanted to establish new offices after the buyout. "The firm wanted to remain in Westport, but with new space to begin its new era," Hruska notes.

Gary Peterson, senior partner of The Michael Allen Company, says, "This move signals a fresh start for the firm. We maintained our roots in Westport, which was very important to us and our clients."

Located at the intersection of Route 1, 8 Wright Street is a three-story, 54,761-sf office building. Michael Allen is the largest tenant at the complex. Other major tenants at the facility include: Marriott Co., MONY and Max Capital, a New York City-based hedge fund.