In the first lease deal, Computer Education Institute agreed to take 25,000 sf of office space at the business park for seven years. The contract is valued at about $3.2 million.

The computer-training school plans to relocate from its current headquarters in Lake Forest. Scott Garmon and Mark McAdams of Cushman & Wakefield's Irvine office represented the park's owner and developer, privately held Davis Partners of Newport Beach. Ali Asgari of Century 21 Automated negotiated for the computer school.

Terms of the second deal will provide In Touch Communications with 9,269 sf at the project. The telephone-communication company's five-year lease is valued at $890,000.

In Touch was represented by Jeff Diltz of Voit Commercial Brokerage's nearby office. Cushman & Wakefield brokers Garmon and McAdams again dealt for the owner.

The 167,422-sf Pacific Corporate Park office campus fronts Bake Parkway, between the 241 Toll Road and the intersection of the 405 and 5 freeways. Though leasing activity at the project has been relatively healthy, the South County market in general has been suffering. Several projects that were started when the economy was strong a year or two ago have recently opened, just as demand began to weaken.

C&W broker Garman says the South County office vacancy factor has jumped to 16.1%, compared to 12.3% for Orange County as a whole. But he adds that leasing activity in the area has recently picked up, and that some big deals could be announced in coming months.

"Several large office tenants are in the market for upwards of 100,000sf," Garman says. They're taking a good look at South County because it's one of the few areas that have a large amount of affordable, campus-style space instead of more traditional high-rise space, Garman adds.