DCOTA Diversifies Office Leasing Strategy

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) is diversifying its leasing strategy—and seeing an uptick in office leasing activity as a result. DCOTA recently four inked leases spanning nearly 35,000 square feet of office space at the 30-acre, three building class A corporate Center. That brings the 2013 total to more than 100,000 square feet.

“While the property is extremely popular in the art and design community, we are seeing a strong uptick in leasing activity from non-design tenants as well,” says John Criddle of Cushman & Wakefield, exclusive leasing agent for DCOTA. Criddle says amenities, central location and proximity to major highways were key factors in attracting all four tenants and noted that the new deals come on the heels of two other notable recent office transactions at the complex, including a 15,069-square-foot lease for Avis Budget Group and a 9,406-square-foot lease for Hull & Company.

In the largest of the four transactions, Magic Leap, a digital animation and cinematic reality experience creator, signed an eight-year lease for 11,500 square feet on the fourth floor of the “B” Building at 1855 Griffin Road for its corporate offices. The company is relocating from Hollywood, FL.

Orthosenor, Inc., a developer of orthopedic devices and real-time medical software, signed a six-year lease for 10,000 square feet on the third floor of the “A Building” at 1855 Griffin Road for its new southeast headquarters. The company is relocating from Sawgrass Corporate Park in Sunrise, FL.

Also relocating to DCOTA is ALS Management Solutions, LLC, a mortgage and loan servicing business, has taken 7,997 square feet of office space on the third floor of the “A” Building at 1855 Griffin Road for its new Broward County headquarters. The company relocated from Cypress Creek, FL and signed a nine-year deal. Finally, Empire Estate Holdings LLC, a newly formed internet marketing firm, signed a seven-year lease for 5,300 square feet on the fourth floor of the “A” Building at 1855 Griffin Road.