Columbia Place | 16 m | 4 fl | Leased by RIM

[Spokes]

Columbia Place
140 Columbia St. West, Waterloo
Website: http://www.columbiaplace.ca/


From their website:

"In the hub of the technology sector and in view of the University of Waterloo, Columbia Place offers a distinct address and prime visibility. The wide street frontage will provide the lead tenant with premium corporate signage. Access from Columbia Street is complemented by ample parking, bicycle lanes and a future LRT system. This 4-storey, 54,000 s.f. prime office building offers a well-identified address and strong street appeal to support your brand and corporate identity."

Building Features:

Contemporary loft office environment
4:1 parking ratio [ed: at rear of the building!!!]
Fully sprinklered building
Under-floor pressurized floor system with unlimited capacity for zoning
HVAC system has C02 detection with fresh air controls
Feature curtain wall construction on north and south face in window box style
2 elevators
Rough-in for backup generator
Perimeter tenant walls and columns finished in drywall and prime painted
Well appointed washrooms with hands free bathroom faucets
Single tenant and multi tenant floors available
Easy to accomodate churn
Great ambient direct/indirect lighting
Every work station has the ability to control air flow

[Spokes]

A few pictures by me today. Couldn't get the whole thing in one shot so it's broken up a bit.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/IM000065.jpg?t=1263147586

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/IM000066.jpg?t=1263147589

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/IM000067.jpg?t=1263147591

I've got to say. I like what they did with this project a lot. Lets hope for some quality retail in the ground floor.

[UrbanWaterloo]

"The entire 50,000 SF at 140 Columbia Street has been leased to an unnamed tenant."

Source: CBRE MarketView Waterloo Region Office 1Q2010
http://www.cbre.ca/EN/Our+Offices/Ontario/Waterloo+Region/Market+Reports.htm

[RangersFan]

This is excellent news, as far as I could tell the building looked like it remained vacant or was not quite complete as I never see cars there.

[diego]

There were very strong rumors that Starbucks wanted to open in this building... I don't know what's happening about that now. Hopefully the unnamed tenant is some sort of a much needed urban grocery store.

[DKsan]

That would be a terrible place for a Starbucks to move into. Sure, close to students, but no room for a patio, nor a good view.

Grocery store maybe, but again, I walk past this everyday (I live close by) and it seems like it would just be a normal office, the ground floor really wouldn't be suited for an urban grocery store.

[mpd618]

If the entire 50,000 SF have been leased to one tenant, that sounds like it's going to all be offices.

[TripleQ]

If this isn't RIM, who else could it be?

[Spokes]

Great news. I wonder if its the 50,000 is including the ground floor as well? I really hope the ground floor is separate retail. I really dont like ground floor office space, it just doesn't interact well with the street.

[Spokes]

If this isn't RIM, who else could it be?

RIM doesn't tend to lease out office space though do they? Off the top of my head other then the Research Advancement Centre (I think) in the RT Park, everything else is their own property. But you're right, they're definitely the logical choice given the amount of space, and it's location.

[Spokes]

The one thing I don't like about this project, especially now with there just being a single tenant, is the suburban style office sign in the ground out front. It's set up to house multiple tenant names, and now with just one it'll look pretty silly.

[TripleQ]

RIM doesn't tend to lease out office space though do they? Off the top of my head other then the Research Advancement Centre (I think) in the RT Park, everything else is their own property. But you're right, they're definitely the logical choice given the amount of space, and it's location.

I don't know one way or another, but you're probably right and they don't lease space. Hell maybe they just bought the building.

[Spokes]

I don't know one way or another, but you're probably right and they don't lease space. Hell maybe they just bought the building.

haha would you be at all surprised? I wouldn't.

[RangersFan]

From DTZ Barnicke's market overview (http://www.dtzbarnicke.com/Client/JJB/JJB_LP4W_LND_WebStation.nsf/page/Waterloo+Wellington+Market+Overview).

The spec building at 140 Columbia Street in Waterloo, know as Columbia Place has been leased to Research in Motion. This 50,000 sq ft office building is a good example of how strong the office market is in the Waterloo area.

[Spokes]

Guess we shouldn't be surprised.

[Spokes]

The Columbia Place sign out front now has a big RIM sign on it as well. It says "RIM 21." Does anyone know what the 21 is for?

Also, last night there were a ton of lights on, so maybe they're putting final touches on to get it ready to be occupied? Hopefully the ground floor gets leased out. A coffee shop could be really successful here given the number RIM employees within such a short walk.

[mpd618]

The Columbia Place sign out front now has a big RIM sign on it as well. It says "RIM 21." Does anyone know what the 21 is for?

It's just the RIM building number.

[Spokes]

It's just the RIM building number.

Awesome, thanks, that was my guess.