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Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Inc., a privately owned firm, was founded in 1947 by Marshall Bennett and Louis Kahnweiler as an industrial brokerage operation. With attention focused on the Chicago area real estate market, the firm quickly emerged as an industry leader. One of its most noteworthy advances was the creation of the suburban industrial park -- a pioneering move that serviced the post World War II industrial boom.
By the early 1950’s, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler expanded its brokerage operations to meet the changing industry needs. Services including the development and leasing of large-scale facilities were added to its roster of expertise. Its early projects included Centex Industrial Park, a 2,300-acre complex that spurred the formation of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Hayward Industrial Park, a 415-acre development in Hayward, California; Gateway Park, a 3,000-acre development in Atlanta, Georgia; and Montbello, a 675-acre industrial park in Denver.
Shortly thereafter, anticipating a shift away from heavy industrial to a more service-oriented base, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler added such services as office and investment brokerage, property/asset management and private placement investment.
Although initially concentrating on the Midwest market, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler now operates on an international level. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, the firm maintains offices in downtown Chicago and Denver, Colorado. In total, some 136 persons are employed by the firm, more than half of which are specialists.
In addition, as an owner/member of Colliers International Property Consultants, the largest real estate organization in the world, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler can call on the expertise of the member companies, with 8,823 professionals in 247 real estate offices in 50 countries on six continents.
Following 54 years of profitability, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler remains a leader in the commercial real estate field. It has been cited as the area's premier corporate real estate firm. Its entrepreneurial spirit is one reason it has been so successful for so long.
Entering its sixth decade, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler has emerged as a fully integrated "Company of Companies." It maintains six operating groups -- each are specialists in one facet of real estate -- working together to provide clients the most complete service available. A brief synopsis of these divisions follows.
Industrial Brokerage The Industrial Brokerage Group offers clients a complete spectrum of industrial real estate services, including sales/leasing, land brokerage and acquisition, sale/leaseback review and site selection. The group maintains 31 licensed specialists, 14 of which possess the prestigious SIOR designation. Each specialist has, on average, 16.4 years of experience. The group also has a full-time market research professional.
Among the clients served by the Industrial Brokerage Group are: 3M Corporation, AAR Corporation, Canon USA, CenterPoint Properties, Computer Discount Warehouse, First Industrial Realty Trust, Franklin Partners, IDI, The McShane Companies, MetLife, Opus North Corporation, Northern Builders, Power Packaging, Prologis, RREEF, Smurfit Stone, The Disney Store and Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Co.
Corporate Office Advisors provides tenant representation, leasing and relocation services to corporate clients throughout the area. Since its inception more than a decade ago, Corporate Office Advisors has focused on developing long-term client relationships through its results-oriented business strategies. In addition, Corporate Office Advisors includes a full-time research expert, who offers in-depth market analysis in both the downtown and suburban areas. This invaluable information helps the office brokerage group provide clients more effective office leasing/sales strategies.
Among the clients served by Corporate Office Advisors Group are: Adobe Systems, Allstate Insurance, Amoco, A.T. Kearney, Inc., BDO Seidman, LLP, CitiCorp, DuPont, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Corporation, GE Capital, General Electric, Metamor Technologies, Platinum Technologies and William Blair & Company.
Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler Investment Services Group assists pension fund advisors, Real Estate Investment Trusts, institutions and entrepreneurs with the acquisition, disposition and financial consulting services for investment properties. The group also offers due diligence review, analysis, sale/leaseback opportunities and extended financial analysis. The experienced staff of professionals are industry leaders in financial analysis, valuation, structuring, marketing and closing. Since its formal inception in 1984, the group has handled more than $900 million of real estate transactions involving most major land uses including office, retail, multi-family, industrial, land and hotel properties. Anticipated investment sales for 2001 will be in excess of $300 million dollars.
American businesses compete in a global rather than regional or national economy. Because of this, they require outside real estate professionals to service their ever-expanding needs in Europe, Asia and South America at the same professional levels they receive in the U.S. Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler’s Corporate Services Group responds to the increasing demands of corporate clients and the growing complexity of the real estate industry.
The Corporate Services Group’s highly skilled staff provides services ranging from project tracking, lease management, consultation and review to strategic planning and implementation of new programs. In addition, Corporate Services incorporates state-of-the-art information systems that keep its clients constantly in tune with and part of all activities -- truly “partnering” with some of the world’s most advanced corporations.
Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler’s Development Services Group was formed to provide clients development consultation and project management on a variety of assignments. Services include consultation, owner representation, project management, build-to-suit/speculative development, tenant build-out and redevelopment/renovation on all product type. The division hires architects, engineers and contractors; oversees the development of design and construction drawings; and reviews specifications to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
The Retail Services group provides Recognized National Retail Sales experience with deep local contacts to fill the needs of Institutional and Private holders of Retail Real Estate. The group teams with the management and leasing expertise of Colliers Retail Specialists nationally and worldwide to deliver a comprehensive approach satisfying strategic retail needs.
Among the clients served by this group are Sears, JC Penney, Simon Properties, General Growth, Urban/Rodamco, Glimcher Realty, CIGNA, MetLife, Pension Plan Advisors such as RREEF and Pension Funds directly, Opportunity Funds, and local property owners.
Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler and Colliers Turley Martin Tucker have partnered to form a distinctive company, Colliers International Real Estate Management Services (Colliers REMS). The function of the joint venture is to provide quality, comprehensive real estate services in the Chicago marketplace including property management, office and retail leasing and in conjunction with Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler, industrial leasing and investment brokerage. Client services range from day-to-day operations, preventive maintenance and quality assurance to construction management, leasing and acquisition/disposition of assets.
Colliers REMS currently has approximately 3.5 million square feet of property under management. Current assignments include Messenger Industrial Complex, Des Plaines; 123-127 Elk Trail, Carol Stream, Butterfield III, Aurora; and 5100 W. 70th Place, Bedford Park for such clients as Capri/Capital Advisors, LLC, Heitman Capital Management and SSR(Met Life).
Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler's management structure is similar to that of many companies. There is a Chairman, President and COO, as well as vice presidents for the individual operating groups.
An important attribute of any firm operating in today's difficult real estate market is the financial strength of the organization. Greatly attributable to the strength of our management, strategic planning, foresight and efficient day-to-day operations, Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler has been profitable every one of our 53 years.
Although we are proud of our financial performance, we place an equal emphasis on civic responsibility. Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler employees -- from principal to support staff -- are actively involved in professional organizations, local communities, boards and religious chapters. Memberships range from serving on the board of directors of Ravinia Festival Association, Better Boys Foundation and JDF to participatory involvement with such respected civic organizations as the March of Dimes, Chicago Symphony, American Cancer Society and United Way. At Colliers Bennett & Kahnweiler, it is standard for each person to give back to the community in which they work.
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