Pierre Fabre Laboratories, a leading French pharmaceutical and cosmetics company, signed a lease to occupy 25,000 square feet of office space within a 466,496-square-foot property in Secaucus, according to a Tuesday announcement from JLL, which helped broker the deal.
The fully built-out space will serve as the company’s north American headquarters.
Pierre Fabre Laboratories plans to relocate to 500 Plaza Drive from its 19,000-square-foot space at 8 Campus Drive in Parsippany.
The building is managed by Manulife Investment Management for Manulife US REIT. It features a modern pantry and coffee lounge, open space for collaboration and an outdoor patio offering skyline views of Manhattan.
The lease follows a recent transaction with the Children’s Place and adds to the roster of headquarters locations for companies including Quest Diagnostics and Hartz Mountain Industries that call the property home.
Tripp Gantt, CEO of Manulife US REIT, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Pierre Fabre Laboratories to 500 Plaza Drive, where recently completed and ongoing capital improvements will ensure the property remains a coveted address for leading companies.”
Originally built in 1985, 500 Plaza Drive underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2015 designed by architecture firm Gensler. The upgrades included lobby and common area revitalization, as well as the development of a full-service cafeteria and outdoor terraces. The property is certified to a WiredScore Platinum level of digital connectivity and is both Fitwel and BOMA 360 certified.
With a focus on further elevating the tenant experience, Manulife US REIT is replacing the property’s HVAC with state-of-the-art infrastructure and upgrading the 1,474-vehicle covered parking garage. The building’s shared conference center and fitness center with locker rooms also will be renovated with new equipment and advanced technology for wireless conferencing that facilitates office and remote meetings.
JLL’s David Stifelman, senior managing director, and Timothy Greiner, executive managing director and the firm’s head of New Jersey brokerage, serve as exclusive agents for 500 Plaza Drive and represented Manulife US REIT in the new lease transaction. Pierre Fabre Laboratories was represented by Cushman & Wakefield brokers Ed Duenas, Josh Cohen and Ryan DePaul.
“500 Plaza Drive stands out as a premier office property in a prime location,” Stifelman said. “With institutional ownership committed to providing tenants with expertly curated and highly amenitized workspace, the property is ideal for companies seeking to attract and retain the very best talent.”
500 Plaza Drive is situated in the 550-acre Harmon Meadow campus of restaurants, hotels, offices and apartments clustered within a highly accessible master-planned community that includes national and big box retail, LA Fitness Signature Club and a 14-screen movie theater.
The 11-story building is situated at the crossroads of the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 3, providing access to virtually any location within the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. It is three miles from Midtown Manhattan, eight miles from Newark Liberty International Airport and served by an extensive bus service. A shuttle service also runs weekdays at peak hours to and from the Secaucus Junction Train Station.
