Stirling Properties Promotes John Woodard to Director of Development and Asset Management
Stirling Properties announces that John Woodard has been promoted to Director of Development and Asset Management.
In his previous role as Development Manager, John led several notable company projects, including the development of the Ochsner Kidney Care facilities in Jefferson, Metairie, Algiers, and Marrero and ongoing single-family build-to-rent projects in Prairieville, Covington, and Jackson, MS. Over the past year, John has also been involved with the asset management of over 1,000,000 square feet of retail, medical, and multifamily properties in Stirling Properties’ portfolio.
In addition to his existing development projects, John will be assuming the role of Asset Manager for many of Stirling’s Southshore properties, including the Pan-American Life Center, Mid-City Market, and Offices at Mid-City. In this new position, he will also continue to be tasked with new business development and government relations specifically focused on the New Orleans market.
“We are incredibly proud of John for his remarkable growth and leadership within our company. He has become an integral part of our team, and we are confident he will only further excel in his new role and help to shape the future of Stirling Properties,” said Townsend Underhill, President of Development with Stirling Properties.
Pan-American Life Insurance Group Renews Long-Term Commitment to New Orleans Market
Extends 10-Year Lease Terms at Pan-American Life Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Stirling Properties announces that Pan-American Life Insurance Group has signed a long-term lease extension thru 2031 of its office space at Pan-American Life Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company will also retain naming rights of the newly renovated building.
Pan-American Life Insurance Group, one of New Orleans’ largest employers and a leading provider of life, accident and health insurance throughout the Americas, occupies a total of 84,014 square feet of office space on four floors of the Pan-American Life Center located at 601 Poydras Street in New Orleans’s CBD. This marks one of the largest lease renewals in the New Orleans office market since 2019.
Founded in New Orleans, Pan-American Life Insurance Group is currently celebrating its 110th Anniversary and a rich history of corporate philanthropy and community service in New Orleans, supporting dozens of organizations across the arts, education and public safety.
“Pan-American Life Insurance Group is pleased to extend our office lease in the Pan-American Life Center and continue our long-term commitment to the New Orleans community and surrounding South Louisiana region. We look forward to renewing our promise to serve as a lifeline to our customers, their families and their businesses,” said José S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group.
Gaines Seaman, Senior Advisor with Stirling Properties, serves as the exclusive leasing agent for the office tower and worked with Pan-American Life Insurance Group to secure the lease extension.
“Pan-American Life Insurance Group has been an integral part of the New Orleans office community for many years, and we are honored to help cement that relationship for many more years to come. Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s renewed commitment to and investment in our area further validates the resiliency of the New Orleans office market. The recent lobby renovations and added amenities to the Pan-American Life Center make it an attractive office location for corporations, large or small,” said Seaman.
The Conference Centre on 11
The Pan-American Life Center is recognized as one of New Orleans’ most prestigious office towers, boasting high-quality tenants in addition to housing the national and regional headquarters of many premier corporations. The class-A building encompasses roughly 673,000 square feet of office and retail space and an eight-story parking structure. The local ownership group of the Pan-American Life Center recently made a renewed investment of $7 million in renovations of the building as a sign of its deep commitment to ensure that it remains a premier office location in New Orleans. The renovations included a redeveloped café, state-of-the-art conference center and upgraded ground floor lobby to better position the building in the evolving office landscape.
The new Café on 11 is a restaurant-style, full-service cafeteria featuring a modernized dining area and exciting new menu. The Conference Center on 11 offers multi-purpose meeting space in various sizes and configurations, including a ballroom, tiered-seating amphitheater featuring high-tech audio/visual equipment, ample break-out areas and collaborative spaces, full-service catering and on-site event management and technology assistance. Other unique amenities in the building include a grab-and-go mini-mart, coffee bar, Royal Shoeshine & Repair Station and dry-cleaning pick-up lockers.
The Cafe on 11
Office tenants in the building include Pan-American Life Insurance Group, IBERIABANK, Morris Bart Law Offices, McGlinchey Stafford, Merrill Lynch, Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard and Stirling Properties. First-floor retail tenants include Smoothie King, Starbucks, Tsunami and IBERIABANK. Stirling Properties’ affiliates own the property and are the exclusive management and leasing agents for the Pan-American Life Center.
For more information on the Pan-American Life Center, visit www.panam-neworleans.com. For leasing information, contact Gaines Seaman at gseaman@stirlingprop.com or (504) 523-4481.
Stirling Properties Names Brad Stillwagon As New General Manager of Pan-American Life Center in New Orleans
Stirling Properties announces Brad Stillwagon as the new General Manager of the Pan-American Life Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He will be stepping into the role upon the retirement of the building’s long-term General Manager, Nancy Rome.
Stillwagon has been with Stirling Properties since early 2019, serving as both an Asset and Property Manager of more than 2,000,000 square feet of retail, medical and office properties across the Gulf South. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington and Lee University and is actively involved in the W&L New Orleans Alumni Chapter. Stillwagon holds the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and is active in the Louisiana CCIM Chapter. He is a Young Leader with CoreNet Global, a network of corporate real estate executives focused on the strategic real estate needs of Fortune 500 Companies, and is pursuing a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a specialization in Workplace Strategy (MCR.w).
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Stillwagon served as Vice President – Real Estate Team Lead with Hancock Whitney Bank, where he worked in Asset and Transaction Management. He currently resides Uptown with his wife and three sons.
In addition to his General Manager duties, Stillwagon will continue to serve as the Asset Manager for many of Stirling Properties’ Southshore properties, including Mid-City Market, Offices at Mid-City Market, Magnolia Marketplace, Old Metairie Village and Oakridge Place.
“Stirling Properties is pleased to announce Brad Stillwagon as the new General Manager of the Pan-American Life Center. We have a great group of talented professionals and building engineers working closely with Brad to ensure a smooth transition. We are confident our team will continue to provide first-class service and support for the office tower and building tenants,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President with Stirling Properties. “We’re also excited about the remarkable renovations to the Pan-American Life Center that we believe uniquely positions it as one of a kind in the New Orleans CBD and enhances its long-term success.”
The Pan-American Life Center is recognized as one of New Orleans’ most prestigious office towers, boasting high-quality tenants in addition to housing the national and regional headquarters of many premier corporations. Built in 1980, the granite-clad, Class A trophy tower encompasses roughly 673,000 square feet of office and retail space, as well as an eight-story parking structure. Office tenants include Pan American Life Insurance Group, IBERIABANK, Morris Bart Law Offices, McGlinchey Stafford, Merrill Lynch and Stirling Properties. First-floor retail tenants include Smoothie King, Starbucks, Tsunami and IBERIABANK. Stirling Properties’ affiliates own the property and are the exclusive management and leasing agents for the Pan American Life Center.
Stirling Properties recently completed a $7 million redevelopment of the property, including a renovated café, state-of-the-art conference center and upgraded ground floor lobby to better position the building in the evolving office landscape.
Major Renovations Coming to Pan American Life Center in New Orleans’s CBD
Pan American Life Center Lobby Rendering
New cafe and food options, state-of-the-art conference center and upgraded lobby.
Stirling Properties announces major renovations to the Pan American Life Center, a 673,000-square-foot premier office building located at the corner of Poydras Street and St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. Construction is currently underway for a $7 million redevelopment project that will include a renovated café, state-of-the-art conference center and upgraded ground floor lobby to better position the building in the evolving office landscape. The café and conference center will continue to be managed by Sodexo.
The café-style restaurant will be located on the 11th floor, offering professional food service and enhanced menu options for building tenants, users of the conference center and surrounding customers. The renovation work on the 11th floor will feature a modernized dining area, upgraded furniture, new flooring, LED lighting and an exciting new menu. Construction began in early January and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2020.
Pan American Life Center Cafe Rendering
During the renovation, the existing café is closed; however, a new Café Micro Market has been opened in the lobby on the first floor adjacent to Smoothie King. The Micro Market is open daily, offering hot menu items such as breakfast, soups, salads, grab-and-go sandwiches and gourmet entrees.
A modern state-of-the-art conference center will be constructed on the 11th floor featuring high-tech audio/visual equipment, a tiered-seating auditorium and a variety of attractive catering packages. Following national trends of space utilization and the desire for open, collaborative work environments and flexible seating arrangements, the new conference center will offer multi-purpose meeting space available in various sizes and configurations. Conference room reservations are expected to begin in the second quarter, with the re-opening of the conference center early in the third quarter.
Renovations to the main lobby and building entrance began late last year and are nearing completion. Upgrades include a modernized, inviting lobby with brighter wall finishes, new furniture, LED lighting, renovated restrooms and installation of an electronic directory. Renovation work is expected to be complete just in time for Mardi Gras festivities.
“The renovations underway at the Pan American Life Center will uniquely position the office tower as one of a kind in the New Orleans CBD, offering new and improved amenities for existing and future tenants. These building enhancements will make our workplace more enjoyable, and also attractive in recruiting and retaining employees,” said Jose S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group.
“IBERIABANK is looking forward to the upgrades coming to the Pan American Life Center. As a major occupant of the building, we know that these improved amenities, along with the enhanced co-working and common areas, will be a huge benefit to the tenants, our existing and future workforce, and our customers,” said Hunter Hill, New Orleans Market President for IBERIABANK.
“Stirling Properties recognizes the changing office environment. Users want more collaborative, open floor plans, ample amenities and innovative trophy projects. These trends in the commercial industry increase the need for more curated properties,” said Grady Brame, Executive Vice President with Stirling Properties. “This renovation will better position the Pan American Life Center for long-term sustainability. It’s an investment in the future workplace that will make our building more attractive and functional for current tenants and new prospects.”
Pan American Life Center is recognized as one of New Orleans’ most prestigious office towers, boasting high-quality tenants in addition to housing the national and regional headquarters of many premier corporations. Built in 1980, the granite-clad, Class A trophy tower encompasses roughly 673,000 square feet of office and retail space, as well as an eight-story parking structure. Office tenants include Pan American Life Insurance Group, IBERIABANK, Morris Bart Law Offices, McGlinchey Stafford, Merrill Lynch and Stirling Properties. First-floor retail tenants include Smoothie King, Starbucks, Tsunami and IBERIABANK. Stirling Properties’ affiliates own the property and are the exclusive management and leasing agents for the Pan American Life Center.
For more information on the Pan American Life Center, visit www.panam-neworleans.com. For leasing information, contact Gaines Seaman at gseaman@stirlingprop.com or (504) 523-4481.
Stirling Properties Names Mike Bucher Vice President Of Development
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce Mike Bucher has been promoted from Development Director to Vice President of Development. Bucher will manage and lead the company’s new office location at the Pan American Life Center in New Orleans.
Bucher joined Stirling Properties in 2014 as Development Director, responsible for leading new and ongoing development projects, including ground-up development, redevelopment and joint ventures as part of the company’s initiative to expand its services across the Gulf South. In addition to these responsibilities, Bucher will also be tasked with new business development, specifically focused on the New Orleans market. He will assume the role of lead point of contact for all New Orleans commerce.
“New Orleans continues to be one of our most important areas for commercial real estate management, development, brokerage, and investment, and we look forward to expanding our presence in this market,” said Bucher. “We are well situated to focus on growing our business by offering our full range of services out of the new Pan Am office, and our central location will make it easier for us to recruit and retain the best talent New Orleans has to offer.”
“Mike has been a great leader and an integral part of Stirling Properties’ growth, and we are proud to announce his promotion,” said Marty Mayer, President & CEO of Stirling Properties. “We recently expanded into a larger space at the Pan American Life Center in New Orleans’ CBD, and we are excited to have Mike at the helm of this new venture.”
Prior to joining Stirling Properties, Bucher was a Development Associate at Federal Realty Investment Trust in Boston, MA, where he was primarily responsible for the project management and financial analysis for Assembly Row, the Trust’s 5-million-square-foot, mixed-use development in Somerville, MA. Bucher managed the planning and underwriting of the project, including 325K square feet of nationally-branded retail, 100K square feet of Class-A office space, and a joint venture partnership that built 450 market-rate apartment units.
Bucher holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, with specializations in corporate finance and investment banking. He is an active member of the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), for which he was a member of the Centerbuild “20 Under 40” inaugural class of 2013.
Mike Bucher can be reached at (504) 523-4481 or mbucher@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties Relocates New Orleans Office To Pan American Life Center
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce the relocation of its New Orleans office to the Pan American Life Center at 601 Poydras Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The company has moved from its former location at 615 Baronne Street—where Stirling Properties has been located for the past 25 years—and combined more than 30 employees, commercial brokers, and building management staff into one central office. Stirling Properties occupies more than 6,700 square feet of office space on the 27th floor of the Pan American Life Center.
“Stirling Properties is committed to the greater New Orleans area and business community, and we are expanding our presence in the market. New Orleans continues to be one of our most important areas for commercial real estate management, development, brokerage, and investment,” said Mike Bucher, Stirling Properties Vice President of Development. “Our new location will enable us to better focus on new business, as well as position us to recruit and retain the best talent New Orleans has to offer.”
“As part of Stirling Properties’ growth strategy, we are expanding into a larger space, located in the heart of the city—in a building that Stirling owns. It just makes sense,” said Marty Mayer, Stirling Properties President & CEO.
Stirling Properties acquired the Pan American Life Center in 2010, and currently manages the property. Earlier this year, plans ensued to transform the building into a mixed-use office and retail space, housing tenants such as Starbucks, Tsunami Sushi and Morris Bart, with additional occupants in the works.
For more information, visit stirlingproperties.com.
