Development Case Study

Build to Suit

2550 HANOVER STREET, STANFORD RESEARCH PARK, PALO ALTO

OWNER: Oakmead Solar Joint Venture
SQ FT: 50,000
COMPLETION: 1997
TYPE: Class A Office
TENANT:  Pillsbury Madison & Sutro
RENAULT & HANDLEY ROLE:  Broker, Manage, Develop

Project Summary

1993   Renault & Handley discovered that this well-located property could be purchased, but was not actively being marketed for sale.  One of our clients, a limited partnership, was keenly interested in acquiring this property and Renault & Handley quickly learned that a local competitor of our client was also interested in acquiring it, so we moved quickly to make an aggressive offer and secured it for our client.

1995   Xerox, the long term tenant of the property, vacated. The building on site, originally constructed in the 1950’s as a warehouse, was functionally obsolete in every respect. Its location within the Stanford Research Park dictated the highest and best use for the property would be professional office and the market conditions were increasingly supportive of a new, state-of-the-art building being constructed there.

1996   Renault & Handley discovered that Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, an international law firm based in San Francisco, was looking to open a Stanford Research Park office for its intellectual property and technology practices, so we negotiated a build-to-suit lease with Pillsbury for the construction of a 50,000 square-foot Class A office shell.

1997   Construction was completed and Pillsbury Madison & Sutro took occupancy. Today, the building’s design and location make it one of the most recognizable and prestigious addresses within the Stanford Research Park.

Renault & Handley Services Provided:

• Property acquisition brokerage
• Identifying highest and best use for property and building design specifications based on market demand
• Marketing
• Build-to-suit leasing brokerage
• Obtaining competitive bids from contractors, engineers and architects
• Design review with tenant, Stanford Lands Management and the City of Palo Alto
• Monitoring construction
• Administering progress payments to contractors and subs
• Obtaining lien releases
• Financial reporting to bank
• Obtaining permanent financing