Mark Stables, with Grubb & Ellis, represented Liberty Mutualin the build-to-suit sales transaction. Scott Marshall, seniorleasing representative with Duke's Chicago office, represented Dukein the transaction.

The office building will allow Liberty Mutual to consolidatefrom four separate locations in the area and will houseapproximately 700 Liberty Mutual employees. "They feel it is moreefficient to get everybody under one roof," Schnur says. LibertyMutual has been leasing about 50,000 sf from Duke in Downers Grove,IL for at least the past 10 years. The 148,000 sf will be slightlymore than what Liberty Mutual is leasing now, but Schnur says hedoes not have exact figures.

"They are going to own this facility and, over time, I thinkthere are economic benefits to developing LEED [certifiedbuildings]," he says. The building will have energy savings throughthe use of daylight and energy efficient systems and collectingrain water to use for irrigation. For LEED certification, Duke isalso using some recycled products in the construction. Constructionis expected to be complete next summer.