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edline Industries, a leading medical supply company, has signed a massive lease for its new office space in the Chicago suburbs. The deal, worth 210,000 square feet at 2375 Waterview Drive in Northbrook, is one of the largest suburban office leases in Chicagoland since 2020. This move comes just weeks after Medline expanded its presence at Vornado Realty Trust's Merchandise Mart by 110,000 square feet.

    The new lease will support over 1,000 employees and occupy nearly a full building in a two-building complex owned by the U.S. arm of Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharmaceuticals. The complex was built in 2012 but has seen reduced office use from Astellas in recent years, leaving one building largely vacant.

    Medline's Northbrook lease stands out in a suburban market struggling with high vacancy rates, which reached a record 31% this year. "We regularly optimize our footprint and operations to best serve our customers and empower our team members," said Kate Slattery, vice president of real estate and construction for Medline.

    The company has experienced significant growth in the Chicago area over the past five years, with its local employee base increasing by 33% to nearly 6,100 employees. This expansion is part of a larger trend in the region, where companies are seeking to establish or maintain a presence despite high vacancy rates.