The news follows announcements that Ask Jeeves slashed 25% of its workforce and replaced CEO Robert Wrubel. The company's stock has also suffered the fate of many in the Web business, trading at a record low of $3 a share after hitting nearly $200 a share one year ago. In it's most recent quarter, which ended on Sept. 30, Ask Jeeves posted losses of $38.5 million on revenue of $29 million.

A spokeswoman for Ask Jeeves said the company's new management is studying its growth projections and evaluating its real estate needs. Ask Jeeves recently recruited Adam Klein, formerly vice president of Hasbro, to take over the role of president.

Scheduled to move in January 2002, Ask Jeeves signed a lease earlier this year to be the building's anchor tenant and has pledged substantial collateral on the seven floors there, located at 555 City Center. Represented by Aegis Realty in its lease, Ask Jeeves--a real language web search engine that allows web surfers to enter their search in the form of a question--will take 180,000 sf in the building, under development by Shorenstein Co.Currently, the company is headquartered 5858 Horton St. in Emeryville, where it occupies 75,000 sf.