777 North Orange Gets Three Preleases

(Carl Cronan is editor of Real Estate Florida.)

ORLANDO-Two months after committing to build the first of three new office buildings in the central business district, Pizzuti Cos. has announced three new preleases for 777 North Orange. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Columbus, OH-based developer’s own local office will be one of them.

Without disclosing specifics, Pizzuti, HuntonBrady Architects and “a major engineering company” will take up a combined 55,000-square-feet in the 11-story building scheduled to open in 2011. A new name has also been given to the trio of buildings planned at 777, 757 and 737 N. Orange Ave.: The Sevens.

“We’re extremely pleased with the response to our new office tower,” Ron Pizzuti, chairman and CEO, stated in a release. He added that the tenants agreed to sign preleases at 777 North Orange, despite current economic conditions, because of their confidence in Pizzuti to get the project done.

Locally based HuntonBrady currently leases space at 800 N. Magnolia Ave. The firm is the architect of record for 777 North Orange, while Bowyer-Singleton & Associates Inc. is its engineer.

Besides promising to break ground on its first building by the end of this year, Pizzuti is also touting its office towers as the first privately owned buildings in Downtown Orlando to seek LEED certification by the US Green Building Council. Other “smart” features will be offered to tenants.

“The building is designed to create space and operating efficiencies that will result in lower expenses and more productive work environments for our tenants,” says Scott Hall, Pizzuti’s senior vice president in Orlando. Colliers Arnold is handling marketing for the building.