Chicago Tile Co. of Washington recently signed lease for space in new office building

A national tenant has signed a lease to move into a Kennewick office building featuring sweeping views. Construction begins next month.

The $2.8 million two-story building will feature 9,671 square feet of space and a daylight basement at 8009 W. Tucannon Ave.

Chicago Title Co. of Washington plans to move into the new building near the Steptoe Street and Gage Boulevard intersection before the end of the year, when construction is expected to be complete.

“It’s tremendous to launch a new project anchored by a major national tenant,” said James Wade, realtor and commercial broker for the Kenmore Team of Kennewick.

Gary Duncan, vice president and Central Washington manager of Chicago Title Co. of Washington, is looking forward to moving into a bigger office.

“We’ve outgrown our footprint in the five years I’ve been here. It’s a growing operation and we want a nicer office and to take it up a notch. I’m excited about being able to step to the next level, not just for staff, but for our customers,” Duncan said.

Chicago Title’s employs 12 people at its Grandridge Boulevard location and seven at a title production center on Okanogan Boulevard.

The Kennewick office, which has had a decade-long presence in the Tri-Cities, provides services to Benton, Franklin, Grant, Adams counties.

Duncan, who has been with the company for 28 years, said he’s excited about the central location and the office’s design.

“It’ll have a lot more open feel and natural light which will be great for people’s morale and energy levels. We’re the No. 1 title insurer in nation but you don’t feel that when I walk into that office. Our current office doesn’t convey the strength of the company and where we’re at in marketplace,” Duncan said.

Two more spaces are available for lease in the new building: a 2,000-square-foot daylight basement and the roughly 4,300-square-foot multi-story space.

Wade said the offices are well suited to professional office users, such as legal or financial firms and other professional services.

“It’s nice to do a quality project in a quality location with a quality developer and see it appreciated by the community,” he said.

Sitting just above Gage Boulevard, the upscale office building will offer sweeping views down the Steptoe grade to the Columbia River and beyond.

“If the first floor offers a great view, then the second floor is a stunning view,” Wade said.

“You have to have a lot of glass with a view like that,” said Trini Garibay, the site’s developer and co-owner of Elite Construction & Development Group.

Elite Construction & Development has been a part of numerous construction and remodel projects throughout Tri-Cities, including the remodel of the former Country Gentleman restaurant, construction of Gold’s Gym in Richland, and contributions to the Benton County Fairgrounds and Port of Pasco’s Osprey Pointe Business Park.

Garibay said the Tucannon Avenue building will feature plenty of “open space” and “modern, contemporary lines.”

The lobby/common area on the main floor is comprised of two floors of open space.

On the second floor, hallways will be walled in with glass, which will serve the dual purpose of carrying through the open concept, as well as allowing light to shine in.

The building’s exterior will be distinctly modern, drawing on a variety of building materials to lend dimension and curb appeal, the developers said.

Garibay said these materials include more industrialized elements such as a concrete paneling system and metal accent pieces, along with more traditional materials like wood and stucco.

“A mixture of materials makes it that more visually interesting. Building aesthetics matter,” Wade said, explaining tenants feel a building’s exterior is what makes a great first impression on customers.

Visible signage and ample parking will be incorporated into the lot’s development, with parking on the uphill to accommodate the upper floor and on the lower level for the daylight basement offices. A total of 21 to 30 spaces are planned.

The lease price is $25 per square-foot and offered as a triple net lease, or NNN, an agreement where the tenant agrees to pay all real estate taxes, building insurance and maintenance.

The lot where the new office building will go up is on nearly an acre. The building will occupy roughly half of the lot.

The Kenmore Team has plans for the other half of the lot, which the firm expects to announce soon.

“There’s going to be a cool outdoor space connecting the buildings,” Garibay said.

“It will be a landscaped open area — a communal space — great for coffee, where people can enjoy the view outside,” Wade added.