It has -- and hasn't -- been easy leasing out space in Kelowna's tallest office building.
First, Landmark 7 at 1700 Dickson Ave. just off Highway 97 is the city's premier business address -- a gorgeous and glassy 23-story highrise with 224,000 square feet of class-A commercial and office space.
As such, after completion in 2023, Landmark 7 attracted an array of high-profile tenants to fill up half of the skyscraper.
But, second, coming out of the pandemic, there's also been no question office leasing has been challenging.
Many businesses still have some work-from-home policies and there's been high inflation, high interest rates. supply chain issues and a labour shortage, which have knocked business and consumer confidence.
So, to lease out the other half of Landmark 7, building developer and manager, Stober Group, has hired expert outside help.
William Wright Commercial Real Estate Services of Kelowna, in conjunction with Cushman & Wakefield from Vancouver, will now take the lead on Landmark 7 leasing.
William Wright also has offices in Port Coquitlam, Langley, Victoria, Parksville and Kamloops.
Cushman & Wakefield has 400 offices in 70 countries.
"We do not have a defined timeline to have the entire building leased," said Shelby Kostyshen, a commercial broker with William Wright.
"However, we are working towards attracting the best office tenants throughout BC and Canada who are looking for best-in-class office space in the Okanagan. Based on the amount of space available, we expect it will take over a year to secure the right tenant mix for Landmark 7."
The right tenant mix, according to Kostyshen, is diverse -- from professional services firms such as accounting, law and marketing and financial services like insurance, banks and private equity to technology, medical and health, government and education to retail and restaurants.
"Finding the right fit is a key priority for us, as we strike to create a dynamic, engaging environment that enhances the Landmark District's identity as a vibrant destination," said Kostyshen.
"We are looking for local Kelowna and Okanagan-based businesses, but also companies looking to expand from the Lower Mainland and across Western Canada. We have partnered with Cushman & Wakefield Vancouver to help support these marketing and leasing efforts."
Many businesses are now removing or modifying work-from-home measures, which is bringing more people back to the office and driving up demand for high-quality office space.
That makes William Wright, Cushsman & Wakefield and Stober optimistic Landmark 7 will fill up with quality tenants through this year and next.
The businesses who already call Landmark 7 home are Wellington-Altus Private Wealth on the top two floors, Sun Life Financial and Okanagan Endodontic Specialists on the 20th floor, Honce Dental on level 17, MNP accountants and consultants on the 14th and 15th floors, Bone & Biscuit headquarters and Farm Credit Canada on the 10th floor and the Ministry of Social Development on the 4th.
There are also a couple of deals pending to have two more tenants move in.
Landmark 7 is also has a fitness centre, rooftop patio on the 7th floor and, of course, breathtaking views galore.
Landmark District is home to over 80% of Kelowna's office space inventory and also has six other office buildings ranging in height from seven to 18 storeys, restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores.
In total, Stober Group has over 1.1 million square feet of commercial space and 1,700 residential homes across the Okanagan.
