It has attracted a number of high-profile tenants including NBCUniversal, MindShare and Google.

The design center opened more than a decade ago as a furniture mart, but its high-profile tenants have left.

People who know the developer say the prospect of landing a single, high-profile tenant for what could be a more lucrative office project led him to reconsider his plans.

So the building at 440 Ninth, which is undergoing a $2 million renovation, has begun to attract high-profile corporate tenants.

Real estate executives say that the building is about to gain an especially high-profile tenant.

Mr. Orton said the building's architecture and waterfront setting have drawn interest from a number of high-profile tenants.

"We knew we just had 360 jobs, but we also knew we were an important, high-profile tenant," Mr. Buzzeo said.

Several high-profile tenants have moved in, and a Civil Justice Centre opened in October 2007.

He also hopes that a few high-profile tenants will help create a critical mass.

A high-profile tenant "rearranged the furniture and redecorated the house, without contacting the landlord," he said.