LANDOVER, MD-Advance Realty Group has secured the largest lease of 2006 in Prince George's County, with Giant of Maryland signing a 10-year, 53,556-sf lease at 8301 Professional Place. Giant will move approximately 250 employees to the new address at Metro East Business Campus at the end of this year.

A company spokesperson declined to put a dollar amount for the lease, but did tell GlobeSt.com "that the total aggregate was about $13 million." Giant sold its old building in Landover in 2005.

David Fisher, senior vice president and regional managing director for Advance's Washington, DC region, secured the transaction. Ken Fellows of Scheer Partners represented Advance, while Morgan Sullivan of Jones Lang LaSalle represented Giant.

"In searching for a new regional headquarters that was, first and foremost, convenient and accessible for our associates, we visited several properties and met with numerous companies," explains John Hernon, senior director of leasing and asset management for Giant of Maryland. "We chose Advance Realty Group because of its on-site management, the building's outstanding renovation program, and the overall professional impression we received from the Advance management team."

Fisher adds, "This new lease is representative of the transactions Advance Realty Group brings to the suburban DC market. Late last year, we signed the Epilepsy Foundation to a 32,647-sf lease in the same building, and we have several additional large deals on the horizon. Our success comes from several factors, including our repositioning and substantial capital investments, long-term building ownership, and exceptional reputation for superior on-site management."

8301 Professional Place is a two-story, 137,000-sf class A office building, featuring 68,000-sf floor plates. The facility is accessible to major highways and metro transportation and currently 50,000 sf are available at 8301 Professional Place, one of nine buildings that Advance Realty Group owns in Metro East Business Campus.

Metro East Business Campus is in walking distance to New Carrollton train station, which is serviced by Metrorail, Amtrak and MARC. It is also in close proximity to Route 50 and the Capital Beltway (I-495). On-site amenities include a fitness center, cafeteria, hotel and restaurants.

In the suburban Washington, DC marketplace, Advance Realty Group currently owns in excess of 1.5 million sf of space. The company has acquired more than $250 million of properties since it entered the marketplace in 1998.