''The CBD is absolutely perfect right now,'' says NathanJohnson, a broker with the Denver-based Frederick Ross Co. Johnsonhas been recognized as the area's top office broker by the ColoradoChapter of the National Association of Industrial and OfficeProperties.

The overall vacancy rate is 5.1%. The Denver market isconsidered strong enough to absorb a million sf in two newhigh-rises, one by the Hines Cos. of Houston and the other byEquity Office. Equity Office has yet to reveal its plans for asecond office building in its Tabor Center complex in downtownDenver.

Johnson also concludes the northwest corridor has absorbed arecord 871,000 sf in the first six months, more than any othersubmarket. The corridor encompasses the Interlocken Business Park,which includes office campuses for Sun Microsystems and Level 3.The northwest corridor's absorption rate five years ago "wasbasically zero," says Johnson.