Nader Shah, senior vice president with Higgins Development,tells GlobeSt.com that the firm chose the Burbank site for a numberof reasons, among them the continuing demand for office space thathas made Burbank and Pasadena "probably two of the strongestmarkets in the region." He cites an office vacancy rate in 3% rangein the area.

Shah tells GlobeSt.com that Higgins was already looking fordevelopment opportunities in the Burbank-Pasadena area when the2300 Empire site became available. The property is part of a106-acre former Lockheed aerospace facility that has since beenredeveloped into a number of uses, including retail and office.

Higgins will develop the project, which will be designed by WareMalcomb, in a venture with equity partner Walton Street CapitalLLC. The developers expect to begin construction late this year,with completion approximately 12 to 14 months later.