Bergman Real Estate signs new leases at Madison’s 7 Giralda Farms

Wilson Elser, BEM Systems to relocate to three-story property set to see renovations

Jessica Perry//April 13, 2022//

Bergman Real Estate signs new leases at Madison’s 7 Giralda Farms

Wilson Elser, BEM Systems to relocate to three-story property set to see renovations

Jessica Perry//April 13, 2022//

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7 Giralda Farms, Madison
is situated within the 1.15 million-square-foot Giralda Farms Corporate Campus in Madison – JLL CAPITAL MARKETS

acquired Madison’s 7 Giralda Farms office building last summer. Now, as it embarks on a repositioning campaign there, the Iselin-based real estate investment and management company has signed two new tenants for the property.

Totaling 28,100 square feet, international law firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP and environmental engineering firm BEM Systems Inc. will both relocate to the three-story Class A office property, Bergman RE announced April 12. The agreements mark the first leases at the property since it was acquired last year.

Wilson Elser will make the move to 7 Giralda Farms from Florham Park. The new tenant — which boasts more than 900 attorneys in 41 offices throughout the U.S. and London — was represented by Gregg Najarian and Slava Vaynberg of Savills’ Rutherford office and Chris Tarzon of Savills’ Illinois office.

BEM Systems, meanwhile, will relocate its headquarters from Chatham to the Madison property. Mark Twentyman of Chatam-based Kingsbridge Realty Advisors served as broker on the transaction.

“We’re very excited to welcome firms of this caliber to kick off the repositioning of 7 Giralda Farms,” said Cushman & Wakefield Managing Director Josh Cohen, who along with Bill Brown and Joseph Ratner serve as exclusive agents for the property.

“The Bergman and Cushman teams believe strongly in the quality and location of this asset and the ability to breathe new life into the building,” Cohen added. “We’ve all been pleasantly surprised at the level of interest and activity new ownership and their renovation plans have received.”

Crafting quality

When Bergman acquired the building in 2021, the firm announced it would invest in a $3.6 million capital improvement program at the property, which is part of the 310-acre, gated Giralda Farms Corporate Campus.

“When we acquired 7 Giralda at 60% occupancy, we knew this was a uniquely special property located in one of the most beautiful office parks in all of New Jersey that was lacking modern improvements and amenities typically seen in Class A buildings of this quality,” Bergman Real Estate Group President and CEO Michael Bergman said in a statement.

The firm engaged Millburn-based architectural design firm Studio 1200, led by Sandee Markwith and Nancy Dougherty, to modernize the building’s interiors and add amenities to make the property competitive in attracting quality tenants and employees.

Renovations announced this month by Bergman include all new finishes and furniture upgrades to the lobby, cafeteria, fitness center, restrooms and common areas. New amenities are also on the docket, including a conference and training center, an employee lounge and game room, a bike share program, collaborative spaces, and outdoor seating and enhanced landscaping.

”We are very excited to start these well designed improvements,” Bergman said. “Giralda Farms is already recognized as one of the most prestigious office locations in the tri-state area, and with these forward-thinking, state-of-the-art additions, 7 Giralda Farms will cement its status as a leading model for other Class A commercial office spaces in the Morristown Region and throughout the New Jersey office market.”

Situated on the former Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Estate, the 1.15 million-square-foot Giralda Farms Corporate Campus is home to companies including Prudential, Leo Pharma Inc., AbbVie, Merck, Pfizer and Atlantic Health System. The property is 1.5 miles from downtown Madison and 3 miles from downtown Morristown, offering access to area highways and public transportation.