OAK BROOK, IL-Great Lakes REIT posts a slight increase in funds from operations despite occupancy falling nearly two points to 90.5%, largely due to Wausau Insurance leaving One Park Place in suburban Milwaukee.

CAROL STREAM, IL-Ingram Entertainment subleases 72,445 sf at 382 Lies Rd., a block from 281 Lies Rd., where Technician Services Inc. has leased 17,000 sf. Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc. brokers are involved in both deals.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL-The East-West Corridor is swamped with 2.4 million sf of sub-lease space and a 13.3% direct vacancy rate, according to U.S. Equities Research, Inc., but deals are getting done.

BANNOCKBURN, IL-The 202,000-sf office building at 3000 Lakeside Dr. in this north suburb known more as the former home of Chicago coaching icons Mike Ditka and Phil Jackson is being bought by Great Lakes REIT.

CHICAGO-The merger of Michael Best & Friedrich and Schwartz & Freeman creates a firm with 100 attorneys and requires a 29,412-sf lease expansion at 401 N. Michigan Ave. The new firm has 66,416 sf in the Equitable Life building.

CHICAGO-Qwest Communications and Exodus/GlobalCenter Inc. take separate 135,000-sf facilities in the Near South Side telecom center at 350 E. Cermak Rd. while Verio takes 87,423 sf. Kajima performs the build-outs.

CHICAGO-Centrum Properties and Angelo Gordon and Co. buy the 26-story office building at 535 W. Chicago Ave. and the parking garage across the street and plan 400 condominium units, and perhaps hotel rooms.

WARRENVILLE, IL-International Truck and Engine Corp. takes a 260,000-sf build-to-suit at the Cantera office park, while another 91,897 is available at Keystone at Cantera. Jones Lang LaSalle Development is involved in both deals.