Architecture Firm Relocates to Durham Office Tower

By Timea Papp

Legacy Tower Building in Durham, N.C.

Architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has relocated to the Legacy Tower Building, a 165,029-square-foot office tower in downtown Durham, N.C. The company is leasing 12,000 square feet in the 12-story building, which was built in 1965 as the headquarters of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co.

The property sits on a 3.3-acre site at 411 W. Chapel Hill St. and underwent extensive renovations in 2015, according to Yardi Matrix. The new tenant moved into its new space from its previous location at 5310 S. Alston Ave. in the Research Triangle Park submarket of Raleigh-Durham, N.C. The new Durham office will house the firm’s 60 architects, planners and interior designers, featuring an open and flexible floor plan.

The Legacy Tower Building features amenities including an on-site cafeteria, auditorium, parking deck and surface parking lot with 258 available parking spaces. Located just off the Durham Freeway, the property provides access to Research Triangle Park, Chapel Hill, N.C. and Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Fitwel-certified

Perkins+Will’s new studio is the first workplace in North Carolina to achieve Fitwel certification, an evidence-based standard that promotes occupant health and productivity through an integrative approach to workplace design and operations. The architecture firm is the first U.S. company to commit to achieving Fitwel for its North American and London offices.

“Relocating our office provided an ideal opportunity to take a holistic perspective on well-being and the entire employee experience here at Perkins+Will,” said Design Principal Kenneth Luker, in a prepared statement. “The idea is to create an environment that nurtures an exchange of diverse ideas, and continues the studio’s tradition of producing design that inspires,” he added.

According to Yardi Matrix, the current owner, Durham-based Greenfire Development, acquired the asset in 2006 from North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. in a $10.5 million deal.

Image courtesy of Yardi Matrix