MetWest International Sees Increase in Leasing Activity/35,600 Square Feet Leased

Sept. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- Vaco Tampa, LLC, a consulting and placement firm specializing in the finance and technology sectors has leased 4,345 square feet at MetWest One. The firm was represented by Tim Kilkelly with CNL.

Real Time Staffing Services, Inc. has signed a lease for 2,215 square feet at One MetroCenter.  The firm was represented by Caleb Lewis with Bishop & Associates.

Angela Odell of Taylor & Mathis represented owner MetLife in both transactions.

About MetWest International   http://www.metwestinternational.com  
MetWest International is an award winning, mixed-use center developed by MetLife. Located across from Tampa International Airport and International Plaza in the Westshore Business District, MetWest International includes One MetroCenter, the Gold LEED Certified MetWest One and MetWest Two.  A third office building will be started as demand dictates.  Two well known restaurants, Kona Grill and Texas de Brazil, have located their first Tampa locations in the project’s retail village with a third Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant scheduled to open early next year.  When complete, the pedestrian-friendly, urban-oriented development will include:

•   Nearly one million square feet of Class A office space
•   74,200 square foot retail village
•   260 room full-service upscale hotel
•   254 residential units

The project has received four Best of the Best NAIOP awards, including Outstanding Green Building/Project, Outstanding Office Building (MetWest One) and Outstanding Retail Building. Additionally, Taylor & Mathis was awarded Developer of the Year for their role in developing the mixed-use project. Taylor & Mathis serves as the development manager for the project and handles office leasing and management responsibilities.  
Other awards include The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Outstanding Project of the Year (MetWest One), The Greater Tampa Bay chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Office Building of the Year and the BOMA 360 Performance Building designation (One MetroCenter). Both MetWest One and One MetroCenter have achieved EPA Energy Star ratings. In addition, MetWest Two has been designed for LEED Certification by the US Green Building Council.

About MetLife
Through its real estate investments department, MetLife oversees a well diversified real estate investment portfolio of more than $60 billion, which is one of the largest in the U.S. and consists of real estate equities, commercial mortgages and agricultural mortgages. MetLife is a global leader in real estate investment and real estate asset management, with a vast network of regional offices that keep in close contact with the major real estate markets. MetLife's real estate investment focus includes office, multi-family, industrial and retail properties. For more information, visit www.metlife.com/realestate.

About Taylor & Mathis
Taylor & Mathis serves as the development manager for the project and handles leasing and management responsibilities.  Taylor & Mathis is a diversified real estate company specializing in the development, marketing and management of office buildings, suburban office parks, industrial parks and mixed-use projects. Founded in 1967, the company has developed properties exceeding $1.9 billion in value and has established itself as one of the most respected regional real estate firms in the United States. Based in Atlanta, with offices in Tampa and Miami, Taylor & Mathis concentrates its business activity in primary growth markets in the southeastern United States. For more information, visit www.TaylorMathis.com.