Most recently, Transfair USA, the only independent third-partycertifier of fair trade products in the United States, signed aseven-year lease for the 22,681-sf top floor of the four-storybuilding. Its build out will feature operable windows, tintedskylights, recycled carpet and ceiling fans. Occupancy is slatedfor September.

Transfair, which is now located less than one block from 1500Broadway, was represented by Ben Harrison with the Oakland officeof Colliers International. "They are basically moving across thestreet from their existing location, which has 5,000-sf floorplates," he says. "They are doubling their space and wanted to beon a single floor; the top floor allows them to have skylights andfresh air, things you can't get in the middle floors of a sealedbuilding."

As for the lease rate, Harrison tells GlobeSt.com thetransaction represents one of the last sub-two dollar lease dealsin the Oakland marketplace for class B space. "The market istightening and higher pro-forma rent models will be driving thenext round of deals," he says.