BY AL BARBARINO

Cognolink has made another connection at 411 Fifth Avenue, a.k.a. The Fashion Accessories Center, where the firm has signed an eight-year, 5,600-square-foot lease, The Commercial Observer has learned.

The research firm, which connects business professionals across various industries, takes the 10th floor in the 11-story building as part of its expansion and relocation from its previous location just around the corner at 35 West 36th Street.

“They liked the neighborhood and they wanted to stay in the same location because it’s convenient to their employees,” said Evan Margolin of Studley, who represented the tenant and was promoted to senior managing director at the firm last summer, adding that the firm doubles its space with the transaction. “It has a wide open loft-style feel – it’s open, bright and great for a collaborative environment.”

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BY BILLY GRAY

The mid-price casual apparel company signed a 15-year, 5,100-square-foot lease at Thor Equities' 532 Broadway in Soho and will move there from its current 14,500-square-foot location at 520 Broadway.

Robert Cohen of RKF represented the tenant. Joseph Sitt's Thor Equities was represented in-house. Asking rents were $800 per square foot.

"This was a natural lease expiration for Club Monaco at 520 Broadway, where Michael Kors is going," Mr. Cohen said. "It was an opportunity to find as good a location--if not a better one--and have a bit more space on the ground floor to showcase the Club Monaco experience."

Mr. Cohen said that Club Monaco--a subsidiary of Ralph Lauren--should open by July or August in the former Soho home of Levi's. "It will be a full remodel and very different aesthetic. I'm sure it will be a first class build out."

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BY GUS DELAPORTE

The Excess Line Association of New York has extended its lease at 55 Broadway, it was announced yesterday.

The lease is for the entire 9,500-square-foot 29th floor and is a five-year deal for a total of 6½ years, according to David Israni, senior managing director at Broad Street Development, the landlord.

Asking rents for the building are in the high 30s, Mr. Israni noted. With 18 months left to go on the existing lease, the new deal was in the 40s and was amortized into the deal with ELANY’s remaining obligations, he said. The deal closed in January, according to a statement.

The new deal benefitted both parties, Mr. Israni said. “It was more managing their desire to get work done and our desire to have a lease renewed that was coming up,” he said.

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BY MICHAEL EWING

The Real Estate Board of New York is hosting a free event for members Thursday morning with speakers Antonio del Rosario of Charles Rutenberg and Jeff Rothstein of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Residential Sales Agent Boot Camp, REBNY Mendik Education Center, 570 Lexington Avenue. 9:30am to 11am; contact Yesenia Perez at yperez@rebny.com for more information.

The third annual Conference on Sustainable Real Estate at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate will explore the potential of harnessing big data analytics and informatics to shift our ability to understand, measure and improve the sustainability of real estate markets and investment opportunities. Jed Kolko, chief economist and head of analytics at Trulia, will be the keynote speaker. The conference qualifies for GBCI’s LEED credential maintenance (CMP) hours.
New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Third Annual Conference on Sustainable Real Estate, NYU Kimmel Center for University Life, Rosenthal Pavilion, 60 Washington Square South; 9am to 4pm.

Robb Pair will be inducted as president of the Manhattan Association of Realtors (MANAR) on Feb. 21. Mr. Pair is currently the president and chief executive of Harlem Lofts, a brokerage firm that specializes in the Harlem real estate market. He will join Zhann Jochinke of G’Day NYC, Fanny Montalvo of Fanny Montalvo Realty and Mark Smith of Park Avenue Property Group as MANAR officers.
MANAR Installation Event, Red Rooster Harlem, 310 Lenox Avenue; 11:30pm to 1:30am.