Fred Ishler, Joseph Stevens and Dan Svachula, all with the Chicago office of Transwestern, represented building owner Transwestern Investment Co., in the lease transaction. Joe Arnstein, with Studley, represented Fonterra. The company decided to move its headquarters to this market because of the proximity to O'Hare International Airport, says Ishler, SVP with Transwestern. Additionally, the accessibility to Chicago will be better for recruiting, he says.

The company will lease the majority of the seventh floor of the nine-story building. Fonterra is expected to move into the new space in June, Ishler says. Eighty people are expected to work in the office, he says.

The 238,696-sf building was constructed in 1989 and is part of the three-building 611,263-sf Columbia Centre complex. The complex also includes the Sofitel Hotel and is near the Rosemont Convention Center. The asking lease rate for office space in the complex is $14 per sf, net, Ishler says. Columbia Centre III is 84% leased and the three-building office complex is 70% leased, he says. Major tenants in the complex include Sprint, Rail Europe and AT&T.