Nanometrics Inc. felt the rumbling of its need for new office space in Ottawa and when the seismic measurement company got ready to depart its headquarters at the Kanata North Business Park, the company was on the hunt for a state-of-the-art facility.
The company was looking to unite its various scattered operations into a single facility with a ground floor laboratory and testing area for its vibration-sensitive equipment but pickings proved thin in the business park where the company had already outgrown three spaces in its three decades of operation.
Nanometrics finally found a location that checked all the boxes at 3001 Solandt Road, but the property had a pair of other high-tech multinationals interested in leasing the same space. Nanometrics finally put a deal together with landlord Fiera Capital to win the coveted spot and remain within the Kanata business park.
About the Project: Nanometrics needed a significant square footage and sought a building with curb appeal to elevate their brand name as well as an ample supply of outdoor parking spaces. The 65,000-square-foot, two-floor, 1989 structure also came fully furnished and wired, which allowed the company to save millions of dollars in expenses.
Nanometrics struck a deal with the existing tenant, a company known as Flex, to sublease back a portion of the building while Flex awaited for its new space. Nanometrics' willingness to accommodate Flex became the key element of the deal that allowed it to win the property lease over other suitors.
What the Judges Said: "Finding a suitable site for a 30-year-old Kanata-founded company to consolidate and grow, while also providing an option for the existing tenant to sublease part of the space while they secure a new location, is a win-win situation for Ottawa. Finding this location and making it happen in a way that stimulates growth of a local company while safeguarding the current tenant is imaginative and a credit to the realtors and landlord reps involved,” said Chris Cope with the city of Ottawa.
"The broker and tenant had to be very creative and had to move very quickly to secure this space ahead of some very tough competition from two other prospects that wanted the same space," said Alain Desmarais with Cushman & Wakefield.
They Made It Happen: Oliver Kershaw and Lindsay Hockey with Avison Young represented Nanometrics in its lease. Brent Arseneau, director of office leasing with Colonnade Bridgeport, represented Fiera Capital.