Although it is one of the stronger submarkets as well as the largest, the West Loop began the year with a 15.1% vacancy rate when sublease space is included, according to Delta Associates. Although terms were not disclosed, John Buck Co. asks $16 per sf and up for space at the 1.1-million-sf building next to Union Station, where vacancy is less than 4%.

Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council operates its Illinois Poison Control Center out of its leased space. Although terms were not disclosed, Staubach Co. managing principal Mike Sessa and senior vice president Bob Peterson represented Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, which is made up of 140 hospitals and healthcare organizations. The John Buck Co.'s Bill Rolander handled negotiations for his company.

Vacancy at 550 W. Washington St. is less than 8%, but another 98,000 sf is expected to become available in the second quarter. "Because of our client's right to cancel, we leveraged the market and took a long look at a number of alternatives," says MB Real Estate senior vice president and managing director Andrew Davidson, who represented the energy supplier with vice president Boris Yelyashov. "In the end, 550 W. Washington was competitive with the market, and we were able to renegotiate and expand at rates substantially below their current lease obligation."