Chiquita gives huge boost to Charlotte office market

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor After having recently decided to move its corporate headquarters from Cincinnati, Ohio to the Queen City, Chiquita Brands International Inc. announced plans to occupy five or six floors of the 20-story NASCAR Plaza in uptown Charlotte [...]

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor

After having recently decided to move its corporate headquarters from Cincinnati, Ohio to the Queen City, Chiquita Brands International Inc. announced plans to occupy five or six floors of the 20-story NASCAR Plaza in uptown Charlotte and have its branding featured atop the landmark building. The 390,000-square-foot, Class A office tower is conveniently located at the corner of Caldwell and Stonewall Streets. The move is expected to be complete by the end of next year and bring about 400 jobs to the area, with an average salary of $106,000.

In addition to its HQ relocation, the company will also open a research facility in Mecklenburg County, as reported by the Charlotte Observer. Further details on the project have not been yet disclosed.

In other news, Cassidy Turley, one of the nation’s leading commercial real estate services firms, has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its office in uptown Charlotte, according to the Charlotte Business Journal. Cassidy Turley occupies 11,500 square feet of office space on the 34th floor of the Duke Energy Tower, the most sustainable skyscraper in America. The firm’s office interior was arranged according to green principles, including use of recyclable furnishings, Energy Star-rated equipment and appliances, reduction in energy consumption through the installation of motion sensors, indirect/direct lighting, and LED exit signs.

“LEED Certification is important to our company because we have a strong commitment to do what is in the best interest of our clients, our employees, our communities and our environment,” said Andrew Laing, vice president at Cassidy Turley and a board member of the USGBC Charlotte Regional Chapter, in a statement. “By embracing sustainability in our space, we encourage our clients and tenants to also support this approach.”

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Simpson, via Wikimedia Commons

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