9:00 AM
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) announces the integration of its Texas service offerings at its new regional headquarters office at 2 BLVD Place, located at 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, in the heart of Houston’s Uptown District. The move unites the service offerings of NGKF and ARA, a Newmark Company (ARA Newmark), to provide a cohesive presence under one roof, for seamless client service. The 38,582-square-foot office will now be home to nearly 100 executives, professionals and employees, with room for planned growth.
“As one of the largest full service real estate firms in the industry, NGKF has been expanding its platform across the major gateway cities nationwide to meet the needs of our clients. Moving to 2 BLVD Place in the Galleria area, one of the Country’s most prestigious and distinctive mixed-use business developments, allows us to grow our client services and maximize our synergies,” stated Neal Golden, vice chairman of NGKF. “Our commitment to advising the world’s largest corporations, investors and owners in effectively managing their real estate operations and portfolios is unwavering, and with Houston positioned to become the “Third Coast”, the timing is optimal.”
“Organic to the industry, we are by nature immersed in a highly energized business and have the opportunity to invest in our people by providing a location and environment that mirror our creative and entrepreneurial culture.” added Golden. “NGKF’s investment in our Houston operation and combining our ARA Newmark office with NGKF’s new regional headquarters is the right move for our clients and our employees.”
“We now offer a distinct advantage for our multihousing clients with ARA Newmark’s direct ability to tap into the global debt, equity and investment markets. Perfecting our service model to provide investment sales strategies and services, as well as facilitating private and institutional debt and equity assignments throughout the client transaction process, is our ultimate goal,” commented Matthew Rotan, vice chairman of ARA Newmark. “The success of the strategic alignment of our all-star capital markets and investment sales team elevates ARA Newmark’s arsenal of tools.”
BLVD Place is part of the Uptown District, defined by sophistication and international prominence, and boasts more than 26 million square feet of commercial office space. “The award-winning BLVD Place development attracts high-profile tenants,” remarked Ed Wulfe, chairman and CEO of Wulfe & Co., managing partner of the development. “NGKF brings an enhanced level of professionalism to the project and with its tenancy the development is now 98% leased,” Wulfe added. “BLVD Place, owned by an open-end core-plus real estate Fund managed by Bailard, Inc. of Foster City, CA. and advised by Stockbridge Capital Group of San Francisco, offers a remarkable opportunity for tenants in the Houston market with its highly visible and easily accessible preeminent location and concentration of upscale restaurants and retailers.”
The state-of-the-art complex includes the 52,000 square foot Whole Foods Market and the 55,000 square foot Frost Bank regional headquarters. Hanover has completed and already achieved over 90% occupancy in its new 30 story luxury residential tower on the west side of Post Oak Lane in BLVD Place.
Marilyn Guion and Connor Saxe of Colvill Office Properties and Elise Weatherall of Wulfe & Co. represented BLVD Place in the lease negotiations for NGKF. Lispah Hogan, executive managing director of NGKF handled the negotiations for the tenant.
About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) is one of the world’s leading commercial real estate advisory firms. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently-owned offices, NGKF’s 12,800 professionals operate from more than 370 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.
With roots dating back to 1929, NGKF’s strong foundation makes it one of the most trusted names in commercial real estate. NGKF’s full-service platform comprises BGC’s real estate services segment, offering commercial real estate tenants, landlords, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing; capital markets services, including investment sales, debt placement, appraisal, and valuation services; commercial mortgage brokerage services; as well as corporate advisory services, consulting, project and development management, and property and corporate facilities management services. For further information, visit www.ngkf.com.
NGKF is a part of BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcpartners.com.
About ARA, a Newmark Company
ARA, A Newmark Company is the largest full-service investment advisory firm in the nation that focuses exclusively on the brokerage, financing and capital sourcing of multihousing properties including conventional, affordable, distressed assets, notes sales, seniors, student & manufactured housing and multihousing land. ARA Newmark is comprised of the country’s top investment professionals who leverage a unique and fully integrated cooperative business platform of shared information, relationships and technology driven solutions. ARA Newmark’s unified enterprise approach ensures that clients are delivered the broadest asset exposure, effective matching of buyers and sellers, and the shortest transaction timeframes in the industry. This combination of global resources, unparalleled market expertise and nationwide presence in the multihousing marketplace has resulted in an annual production volume of more than $12.4 billion in real estate transactions in 2014. For detailed information on ARA Newmark’s extensive multihousing investment services, visit www.aranewmark.com.