The company says that the new, larger location will allow it to accommodate its continued growth and to serve its Fortune 1000 customer base, as well as its local New England-based customers and partners. Cognos sells business-intelligence and corporate-performance management software and among its local clients are Paramount Cards, the Massachusetts Housing Finance Authority, Aspect Medical Systems, Big Y Foods, Sane Solutions and Creative Computing.

The new office will feature customer, partner, training and education centers as well as space for future growth. "We have been growing our operations worldwide , especially in Burlington, which is now the 'hub' of worldwide sales, services and marketing and are committed to utilizing these headquarters to further solidify our global leadership position," says Tony Sirianni, senior vice president of worldwide field operations for Cognos.

The deal is good news in this market which is still struggling to fill its office space. According to Trammel Crow Co.'s statistics for the first quarter of 2003, Burlington's overall available office space was at 41.6%, up slightly from the previous quarter's 40.3%. Lease rates for this deal were not available but average asking rent for office space in Burlington is at $23 per sf.