On March 28 at Gilley’s Dallas, we announced our 2019 Commercial Real Estate Awards winners. The winner of Best New Office Project is the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services headquarters. The finalists were The Offices Two at Frisco Station, Offices at the Realm, and Watchguard Video.
Winner: Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
When it opens this spring, Mercedes Benz-Financial Services’ new 200,000-square-foot build-to-suit will sit at the southern edge of AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s massive mixed-use development in North Fort Worth. Knowing that the project would serve as a visual gateway to Alliance, great care was taken to knit the campus into the surrounding landscape, ensuring that no parking or roads would come between the building and a nearby water feature, and incorporating glass to maximize the views and natural light. The new facility also encourages innovation and collaboration and incorporates more than 100 new contemporary art pieces, thanks to partnerships with SMU and TCU.
The Offices Two at Frisco Station
Along with best-in-class amenities, the 210,000-square-foot second office phase at Frisco Station will offer tenants access to the latest wireless advancements through the implementation of AT&T’s 5G Evolution technology. It also will provide next-gen mobility options, including autonomous vehicles through drive.ai’s pilot program and, eventually, Uber Elevate. It’s the second of five planned office buildings planned by VanTrust Real Estate at Frisco Station, a 240-acre mixed-use campus developed in collaboration with Hillwood and The Rudman Partnership. Construction on the six-story office building is scheduled for completion in September 2019.
Offices at The Realm
Part of Bright Realty’s 324-acre development along State Highway 121 in Lewisville, Offices at The Realm is a cornerstone of the latest mixed-use phase, called The Realm at Castle Hills. With 235,000 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail space, the campus will overlook Crescent Park. The development will feature tenant common areas with WiFi connectivity, computer bars, a conference center, and a fitness center. “The demand to live, work, and play in the same area has transformed our suburban communities,” said Bright Realty CEO Chris Bright, when the project was announced. “The Realm is designed with that in mind, and with a focus on an overall quality of life that offers a sophisticated suburban setting with generous outdoor and event spaces.”
WatchGuard Video HQ
A leading provider of mobile video solutions for law enforcement opened a new headquarters in Allen in June 2018. The 140,000-square-foot office building is now home to about 500 employees. An engineering wing and attached laboratory provides designers with state-of-the-art creative space. Other features include a 3D printing room, high-tech product experience room, training rooms, and vehicle installation areas with an officer lounge. Employee amenities range from a fitness center with locker rooms and showers, indoor racquetball court, outdoor basketball court, an in-house medical clinic for employees, and a catering kitchen. A planned second phase will add 72,000 square feet and accommodate an additional 250 employees.
