John Buck's Spring Fling!

You know it's summer when the entire real estate community gathers at the Mart for John Buck's Spring Fling. (It's the perfect time for the whole industry to get together and tell each other, "we should get together soon.") We were on the scene late last week.

Total attendance came in around 3,300 (they're all hiding under the tent), we're told, with sponsor commitments going into the event totaling $479,800. The event nets an average of $600k/year, and this year's beneficiary was Working In The Schools, which promotes literacy and a love of learning in Chicago Public School elementary students through a volunteer-empowered, outcomes-based portfolio of programs.

Here are Wells Fargo EVP Mike Svets, HFF senior managing director Jeff Bramson, and The John Buck Co prez Blake Johnson. Jeff tells us HFF will be hitting the market soon with a 260k SF portfolio of loft office buildings in River North, a "great creative office space opportunity."

Stone Real Estate principal David Stone, associate Danielle Rudas Goodman, and VP John Vance. Spring Fling's setting was special for Stone, because the firm has been the retail leasing agent for the Mart for the last 10 years, David tells us.

It's rare to catch three presidents in one shot. Here's ConopCo Project Management prez Bill Conopeotis, Corporate Realty Advocates prez Richie Klein, and Sommerset Group prez Fred Joosten. Also long-time commish of DRESL, Richie is thrilled that his team, Klein's Corporate, finally got in the W column and will now begin the long march back to the championship circle. (Nobody ever won the championship in June.) He's also lobbying for politicians to now end speeches with "God Bless America and 16-inch softball."

We snapped Spring Fling mainstay Liquidated Damages during a knock-your-socks-off rendition of Radiohead's "Creep." Pictured: Bill Alexander, Dan Ulbricht, Pierre Cowart, Liz Ward, Rick DuPraw, and Mike Gallagher. VP of strategic accounts at Leopardo, Dan tells us he's been focused on tech projects like Zebra Technologies' 300k SF-plus HQ (as well as Twitter and Vivid Seats' new spaces at 111 N. Canal). While they're seeing more collaborative office spaces, that doesn't mean the projects will cost less per SF. Companies are spending more on tech, AV, integrating smart devices, and furniture that supports new ways of work, Dan says.

Here are Endura Communications AVP Lauren Sherman and CEO Kristy Wenz. When the pair isn't sharing hot commercial real estate news with Bisnow, they're enjoying the summer by spending time outdoors. That means running, BBQs, and several getaways in the works.