Giannone said that the pace of MetroTop Plaza leasing has “changed the leasing dynamics of this submarket.” He said, “We expect to see an increase in asking rents and fewer concessions as the market continues to improve.”

Rents at MetroPark are reportedly holding steady at $32 per square foot, but concessions including a free month’s rent have been offered to speed up leasing at the MetroTop Plaza II building.

Giannone was joined by Kevin Carton and Eric Sobel in handling the transaction for Atlantic Realty & Development Corp. The tenant was represented by David Zimmel Associates and Jim Schroeder of Studley.

Hatch Mott MacDonald is relocating from Millburn and expanding its headquarters space. The engineering and design firm has 70 offices in North America, providing infrastructure, transportation, water projects and environmental services.

The firm is taking the entire third and fifth floors and part of the fourth floor of the MetroTop Plaza II, and 10,000 square feet on the first floor of the adjacent MetroTop Plaza I. The firm will have signage on the front of MetroTop Plaza II.

“The new location will provide additional office space to accommodate our anticipated growth needs,” said Nicholas DeNichilo, HMM’s president and CEO. “After considering other locations in central and northern New Jersey, MetroTop was selected because of its excellent highway and rail access, facilitating travel to other HMM offices along the east coast.

“Also, having the Woodbridge Hilton Hotel adjacent to the office will be convenient for clients and staff attending corporate events at our new location,” he said.

HMM’s lease follows the recent signing of accounting firm EisnerAmper for 87,000 square feet, and earlier leases with Ansell Healthcare, Vitech Systems Group and McDonald’s Corp.

MetroTop Plaza II and the 90,000-square-foot Plaza I are situated just off the Garden State Parkway, within walking distance of the Amtrak- and New Jersey Transit-served MetroPark Train Station.