Design-centered software product development firm

Situation

Avison Young represented a 1915 founded commercial roofing company in the disposition of its 1930’s built operational headquarters, a former Canada Dry Bottling Facility.
Smashing Boxes was growing rapidly from its founding in the owner’s home in 2010. It was unable to grow its leased space in the nationally renowned American Tobacco Campus.
After an extensive search, the tenant picked our project to acquire and redevelop into a new headquarters location.

Challenges

Converting a blighted industrial space into an edgy Class A property that would excite a young work force.
Taking an intelligent real estate risk – the immediate area was the last to revitalize in the hotly trending Downtown Durham. Other than a brewery, Smashing Boxes was the first 'for-profit” entity to renovate and occupy a building in the immediate area.

Results

Full redevelopment to suit our client's needs in a rapidly escalating construction cost environment.
Converted the building to include other start-ups such as a music production and agency firm called Maison Fauna, owned by the Smashing Boxes founder. Krill, a Giorgios Bakatsias restaurant, will join the tenancy in Fall 2021.
Provided a major impetus to the area’s dramatically moving revitalization.