Drew Nieman Principal Colliers International Chicago
It hasn’t take Drew Nieman long to make his mark on the downtown Chicago office of Colliers International. The principal with Colliers has only worked at the office since 2011. But he’s already served as lead agent on several of the biggest projects to hit Chicago’s central business district.
These projects, in fact, have totaled more than 4.5 million square feet. This includes the work that Nieman turned in as lead agent for the iconic Tribune Tower in the heart of downtown Chicago. This 737,000-square-foot building is one of the postcard images most associated with the city’s downtown.
Nieman has also served as lead agent on 233 N. Michigan Avenue, an important 1.1-million-square-foot building in downtown Chicago, and 111 E. Wacker Drive, also 1.1 million square feet. Nieman is now working on the proposed new Class-A developments at 108 N. Jefferson St. and 150 N. Riverside Plaza in Chicago. These two developments will total more than 1.5 million square feet when complete.
Nieman’s peers aren’t surprised that he has guided some of the biggest projects in Chicago. After all, Nieman has during his more than 27-year career earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working and most talented professionals in the commercial real estate business.
Before moving to Colliers, Nieman spent 27 years at The John Buck Company, serving as principal during the last 17. While leading the company’s leasing group, Nieman oversaw more than 6.5 million square feet of office transactions.
As he’s done at Colliers, Nieman closed some of the biggest transactions in downtown Chicago’s history while working at The John Buck Company. His big deals there included the 3.8-million-square-foot repositioning and releasing of Sears Tower and the 270,000-square-foot relocation of Boeing from Seattle to Chicago’s 100 North Riverside. Nieman also closed the 1.1-million-square-foot Leo Berunett/Winston & Strawn renewal at 35 W. Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago.
“Drew is especially proud of his accomplishments at one of the nation’s most recognized buildings, the 3.8-million-square-foot Sears Tower,” said one nominator. “He leased more than 2.5 million square feet at the property in the five years following the retail giant’s move to Hoffman Estates, pushing occupancy to more than 95 percent despite competition from much newer buildings in Chicago’s hot West Loop submarket.”
