Avison Young opens new office in Hartford, Connecticut

Fast-growing commercial real estate services firm opens 70th office;
Andrew Filler becomes Principal

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, announced today the opening of a newly formed office in Hartford, Connecticut.

The newest American office represents Avison Young's second office in Connecticut, 48th office in the U.S., and an additional step in the firm's ongoing aggressive growth and expansion strategy.

Over the past six years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to, now, 70 offices in 63 markets and from 300 to more than 2,000 real estate professionals across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Effective immediately, Andrew Filler becomes a Principal of Avison Young and will oversee the new Hartford office's day-to-day operations. Filler brings more than 20 years of commercial real estate industry experience to Avison Young, most recently as Managing Partner and Principal at RM Bradley in Hartford. A high-profile office leasing specialist, he will continue to service new and existing clients in his specialty areas of landlord and tenant representation.

Michael Smith, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the New England region, will oversee the new Hartford office's strategic direction and overall growth strategy.

"We're thrilled to enter the robust Hartford marketplace and expand our New England operations with an established industry veteran like Andrew Filler leading the way in conjunction with Michael Smith," comments Rose. "Hartford is a capital city currently experiencing a transformation that is increasing housing and amenities, and offering attractive commercial real estate opportunities. Furthermore, these opportunities will appeal to local, national and international investors as well as landlords, tenants and owner-users in the office, retail, industrial and multi-residential asset classes." 

Rose continues: "Before entering a new market, we ensure that an established local industry veteran is in place to make the transition seamless and allow us to draw from well-developed, long-term client and business relationships. Andrew is an established market leader in Hartford, and his familiarity with the region's 24-million-square-foot (msf) office and 70-msf industrial markets will be of tremendous benefit as we expand into this budding metropolitan area. Ultimately, Andrew and future recruits in Hartford will allow us to strengthen our full-service platform and fulfill our mandate of providing the best possible solutions for clients' unique business and real estate needs."

Effective immediately, Avison Young's new Hartford office is located at 185 Asylum Street, 15th floor, CityPlace II in downtown Hartford.

Earl Webb, Avison Young's President, U.S. Operations, states: "With its strategic location midway between Boston and New York, the new Hartford office will allow us to build on many established client and business relationships throughout New England, the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada, and create many exciting new ones."

He adds: "As an insurance capital of the world and a major financial center, the Hartford area is home to countless large institutional investors who prefer to invest in multiple U.S. markets and internationally. With its proximity to major Eastern markets like Boston, New York, Washington, Toronto and Montreal, the new Hartford operation will enable us to facilitate more cross-border transactions. Furthermore, Andrew's comprehensive leasing knowledge, extensive client roster and excellent service will enable investors to attain strong returns on their capital investments. Drawing from Andrew's experience, investors will have confidence that their properties will be leased over the long term to high-quality tenants."

Today's announcement follows the opening of new Avison Young offices in Nashville and Knoxville, TN on September 2, 2015; Indianapolis on March 12, 2015, and Minneapolis on March 2, 2015. Avison Young opened its first New England office in Boston in October 2010. The Fairfield/Westchester office (located in New Canaan, CT) opened in June 2014.

"The opening of the Hartford office and Andrew's addition will significantly expand the reach of our growing New England operation," notes Smith. "Andrew is a proven industry leader and his leasing expertise will benefit both landlords and tenants. The relationships Andrew has developed with clients and other industry contacts over the years will be of great value to Avison Young as we continue to expand our footprint throughout New England."

Filler joined RM Bradley as a Principal in 2010 after 15 years as a First Vice-President at CB Richard Ellis in Hartford. In addition to landlord and tenant representation, he has developed and implemented such client-oriented services as availability profiles, leasing strategies, market analysis, lease comparison studies, financial analysis, and lease renewals and negotiations. Past and current clients include Robinson & Cole, Simsbury Bank, People's United Insurance/R.C. Knox and Company, Day Pitney, Connecticut Children's Center, University of Saint Joseph, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider, and Talcott Realty Investors.

Filler serves in his community as an incorporator with Hartford Hospital, President of Simsbury Youth Hockey, and a trustee with the Cobb School. He is a board member of Geno Auriemma's Fore the Kids Golf Tournament, Friends Of Trinity Hockey, and Trinity College's Colt Trust. Filler holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from Trinity College in Hartford.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to play a leading role with Avison Young as the company expands into Hartford," says Filler. "I look forward to continuing my career as a member of Avison Young's talented team and as part of the firm's unique, collaborative, Principal-led culture. One key factor that attracted me to Avison Young is its client-centric business philosophy. I'm thrilled with the opportunity to offer a broad range of resources to clients as well help them grow their businesses in Hartford."

Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, is located in Hartford County in the center of the state, midway between Boston to the north and New York City to the south. The metropolitan region's stable economy draws its strength from a diverse business and industrial community and ranks No. 1 in the world in GDP per capita and second in labor productivity, according to the City of Hartford. A powerful insurance and financial center, Hartford has an extensive list of major high-tech manufacturing firms producing such complex products as aircraft engines, nuclear reactors, space suits and missile components. Metro Hartford is home to such major insurance firms as Aetna Inc., Travelers Property Casualty Corp., MassMutual, The Hartford Financial Services Group, CIGNA, The Phoenix Companies, and The United Health Care Company.

Meanwhile, the region's manufacturing sector includes a number of Fortune 500 corporations and large multinational organizations. Among them are: The Barnes Group and United Technologies Corporation, its divisions Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt & Whitney, along with its subsidiary Otis Elevator. Henkel Loctite Corporation's world headquarters and Stanley tool and hardware manufacturing facilities are also located in Metro Hartford.

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,000 real estate professionals in 70 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties.

For further information/comment/photos:

• Sherry Quan, Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959
• Mark Rose, Chair and CEO, Avison Young: 416.673.4028
• Earl Webb, President, U.S. Operations, Avison Young: 312.957.7610
• Michael Smith, Principal and Managing Director, New England region, Avison Young: 617.575.2830
• Andrew Filler, Principal, Avison Young: 860.327.8302

Avison Young's new Hartford office is located at 185 Asylum Street, 15th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103

www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and has demonstrated its commitment to the program and successfully reapplied for the designation as a Gold Standard winner in 2014. 

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SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

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