EKI Environment & Water, Inc., a full-service engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm, has established a new office in Irvine, California, securing a 13,866-square-foot lease for creative office space within the Fitch Technology Center at 17880 Fitch. The move, facilitated by Colliers, was recently celebrated by Anthony Shell, executive vice president at Colliers, who announced in a recent post that EKI found a space that “aligns perfectly with their growth and mission.”
The new office for EKI, a company known for serving private and public-sector clients across the United States, is situated in a prominent technology hub in Irvine. The Fitch Technology Center, which also includes the address 17838 Fitch, offers modern creative office environments. The building is a single-story office building with a total size of approximately 40,000 square feet
This lease signing occurs as the Irvine and broader Orange County office market navigate a period of recalibration in early 2025. According to various Q1 2025 commercial real estate reports, the Orange County office market is experiencing generally elevated vacancy rates, with figures from different analysts ranging from approximately 11.8 percent to 19.2 percent. While some reports indicated a slight uptick in overall vacancy driven by tenant departures and new speculative developments, others pointed to a decrease compared to the previous year, suggesting a market in slow recovery.
Leasing activity in the first quarter of 2025 has been described as mixed. Some analyses noted a slowdown in the overall volume of deals, yet a consistent “flight to quality” remains a dominant theme. Tenants are increasingly prioritizing new or recently renovated creative office spaces that offer modern amenities and flexible layouts – a category into which EKI’s new 13,866 SF lease at the Fitch Technology Center squarely falls.
Net absorption figures for Orange County have varied, with some reports indicating negative overall absorption while specific submarkets, notably the Irvine Airport area where the Fitch Technology Center is located, have shown resilience and even positive tenant growth. This aligns with the trend of businesses seeking high-quality spaces in desirable locations. Landlords are reportedly responding to market conditions by offering increased concessions and tenant improvement allowances to attract and retain occupants.
Despite the evolving landscape, several market analyses convey cautious optimism for Orange County’s office sector, highlighting improved business sentiment and its comparatively better performance than some other major US markets. The demand for modern, well-located creative office spaces like that secured by EKI Environment & Water, Inc. is a key characteristic of the current market dynamics, underscoring a strategic move by the environmental and water consulting firm to position itself for continued growth in a competitive environment.
