Northwestern Mutual Finds Their Perfect Fit

September 5, 2024

Looking Towards The Future

Northwestern Mutual Was Good...But They Wanted GREAT

Northwestern Mutual is a fixture in the financial services industry, and is locally engrained in the Charleston region. They have a current office location in Mt. Pleasant, and enjoy a rich history growing their team and serving clients in the Charleston region. But they wanted to be more.

Earlier this year, Managing Director of the firm’s Charleston office Chrys Kanos approached Lee & Associates with a desire. The desire was to find a larger, more advanced office space that would act as their landing pad for the future. They envisioned a space that would serve not only as an exceptional place to work, but as a recruitment tool designed to attract and delight new clients and employees. They wanted an office that exuded a professional, modern atmosphere and was easily accessible to desirable amenities.

"We were looking for an environment that would not only attract top talent but also provide our team with a workspace that reflects the vibrancy of Charleston. Coming from Mt. Pleasant, we wanted to be on the Peninsula with accessibility to the perfect amenities for our clients and our team."

Chrys Kanos, Managing Director - Northwestern Mutual

Securing The Perfect Office Space

A Combination of Timing & Expertise

That’s where we came in. Lee & Associates office broker Paul Hartley engaged with Chrys and started the journey of finding that perfect space. It didn’t take long to realize the market was moving quickly. Class-A office space on the Charleston Peninsula was in short supply and high demand, so availabilities were fading quick. At one point, we had several tours scheduled with Northwestern Mutual, only for the majority to get leases signed up before we could even step inside.

Then we got to The Morris. The second Chrys entered the building, he knew there was something special about it. As we walked through the pristine lobby adorned with high-end finishes and an aura of modern professionalism, Chrys could envision welcoming new clients and creating a sense of community right away.

Then we got it done.

Lee & Associates worked quickly with Northwestern Mutual and the landlord to come to an agreement that benefitted all parties. In the end, we secured 11,025 SF of Class-A office space within The Morris. Move-in is slated for early 2025.

There were a few other moving parts to arrange, including Northwestern Mutual’s current office in Mt. Pleasant. We worked out a sublease listing agreement, and within a few days had the space listed, available upon Northwestern Mutual’s planned moveout.

"What stands out most about this process is the alignment of the vision that we had for the growth of our firm, the opportunity to come here, and the expertise to get it done. We are extremely thankful for Paul Hartley and his team at Lee & Associates and we're excited for our move-in here in a few months"

Chrys Kanos, Managing Director - Northwestern Mutual