Commercial Development News - Appraisal Development International

PwC opening new MetWest offices in Westshore
By Mark Holan
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 31, 2013

PwC officially opens its custom-designed 10-story office space Monday in the MetWest International development in Tampa's Westshore district.

More than 2,000 people will work at the 250,000-square-foot building, 4040 Boy Scout Blvd.

"We see a bright future in Tampa and are excited to continue our long legacy of providing quality services to our clients in the market,â€ Mike Quackenbush, managing partner for PwC's Tampa office, said in a statement.

Quackenbush said the company placed a premium on efficiency, a concern for the environment, personal flexibility and teaming. More than 70 percent of the space is designed for collaboration.

The office is also will accommodate mobile workers with "touch down desks" throughout all floors and advanced media sharing technologies throughout the office.
Such build-to-suit projects have been virtually all of the limited office construction in Tampa Bay since the 2007 recession.

The $78 million project created controversy in August 2011 when PwC appeared on the verge of collecting $2 million in taxpayer subsidies. The company later withdrew its request for the incentives, which were tied to keeping jobs in Tampa the company never intended to move.

PwC's Assurance and Tax Service Delivery Centers is remaining at Tampa Bay Office Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Highwoods Properties is doing a major property makeover at the space, in part because of PwC's departure for MetWest.

Mark Holan's beats include commercial real estate and residential real estate.