S&ME extends lease for headquarters at 3201 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 17, 2024) — JLL is pleased to announce that S&ME, a prominent Raleigh-based engineering firm with a strong presence throughout the Southeast and Midwest, has committed to a long-term extension of its 32,000-square-foot lease at 3201 Spring Forest Road. This significant extension signifies the firm’s commitment to Raleigh and underscores the benefits of working in a collaborative, in-person office environment. JLL Managing Directors Matt Winters and Kimarie Ankenbrand and Associate Mimi Potratz orchestrated the lease on behalf of S&ME.

Founded over 50 years ago in Raleigh, S&ME has grown exponentially, now boasting more than 30 offices across several states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. The headquarters in Raleigh will soon be home to over 160 employees as the firm plans to relocate employee-owners from another Raleigh satellite office. In addition, this extension will also see a major renovation of the headquarters space, including a comprehensive interior refresh slated for completion by January 2025.

“Raleigh is the birthplace of our company,” said Keith Brown, Office Principal at S&ME. “As our firm continues to expand, we are proud to deepen our roots in this vibrant market. We believe in Raleigh’s bright future and the opportunities it provides our business. We know our employees will appreciate and benefit from the upgrades we are making to our space, and we look forward to continuing our reputation of excellence from our renovated headquarters.”

Since the company’s founding in 1973, S&ME has evolved into a leading engineering and materials testing firm, renowned for its geotechnical, environmental, civil, and construction engineering solutions. Serving diverse industries such as transportation, energy, water and wastewater, industrial, healthcare, education, and commercial markets, S&ME attributes its success over the last 50 years to its highly skilled team of employee-owners and their commitment to helping communities prosper. 

“A dedicated, Raleigh-founded business, S&ME is a staple in the community,” added JLL’s Winters. “We are thrilled to be part of the firm’s recommitment to Raleigh. S&ME is just one example of many companies that recognize the competitive advantages of planting a flag in Raleigh and have benefited from its culture of innovation, unmatched connectivity to the southeast, and robust business climate.”

According to JLL’s Q1 Raleigh Office Insight report, demand is strong in the market, evidenced by heightened leasing and touring activity over the past two quarters and a dip in direct available space. Due to the constrained construction pipeline, JLL leasing experts are advising tenants to begin the search for new space earlier, as there will be a significant shortage of new office product delivered over the next few years.

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