Hilb Rogal & Hobbs To Move to Norwalk

The lease term is for five years and the company, the eighth largest insurance intermediary in the US, is expected to move to its new offices in August. HRH is headquartered in Richmond, VA and has 140 offices worldwide.

"We are very excited about the move," says Jennifer Caldarella, president and CEO of HRH. "After an exhaustive site selection process, our firm felt that Merritt 7 provided the best location for our growing organization. This relocation is part of a long-term cost effective approach to ensure HRH's continued success and growth in Fairfield County." The firm and its affiliates have offices in Hartford, Shelton and Danbury in the Nutmeg State. Beth Chappel of CB Richard Ellis represented HRH in the transaction.

JoAnn Brennan McGrath, director of leasing for Merritt 7, adds, "we're thrilled to be able to accommodate HRH's existing needs, as well as allow for expansion space as their business continues to grow. We're seeing a trend of Stamford companies relocating to Merritt 7 because the property can offer tenants the benefits of an accessible location, combined with new property renovations and great amenity package--all at highly competitive rents." In the past two years Integrity Life Insurance, Financial Marketing Group, Barlow Group LLC and Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Co. have all moved from Stamford to Merritt 7. The largest relocation from Stamford to Norwalk of late was the 2007 relocation of Xerox's headquarters from 800 Long Ridge Road in Stamford to 45 Glover Ave., part of Building and Land Technology's The Towers complex.

McGrath adds that HRH chose the property, which is owned by a joint venture between the New York State Teachers' Retirement System and Fairfield Investors Inc., due to its proximity to the Norwalk Metro North train station, access to I-95 and the Merritt Parkway and the recent renovations and upgrades that have been instituted at the complex. Among the capital improvements completed recently include a new dining facility, a conference center and tenant fitness center that were added to the plaza level of Building 301. McGrath says that there is currently approximately 60,000 sf available for lease at the complex.