The federal office has signed a 10-year lease for 12,998-sf of office space on the building's sixth floor. The lease will be effective as of July 2003. 555 City Center is part of Oakland City Center complex, which consists of more than 3.5 million-sf of office space, 18 restaurants and food outlets, more than a dozen retail shops and services, an athletic club and parking facility.According to Shorenstein representatives, the group's move from the Federal Building in downtown Oakland is attributed to the expansion of the Federal Courts, specifically theaddition of a new judge located there.

The Government Services Administration (GSA) negotiated the lease on behalf of the Federal Public Defenders Office, while John Dolby, VP of leasing for Oakland City Center, represented Shorenstein Realty Services. The rental rate was not available but the average rate in downtown Oakland for this type of space is in the $30 psfrange.