Finance and retirement planning company Athene has signed a lease to move its customer service and operations teams to the Atlas Building beginning in February.

A spokesperson said Athene has leased the entire fifth floor — about 70,000 square feet — of the building, at 7001 Westown Parkway, which is owned by WB Realty Co.

The spokesperson said the move will give the 420 employees who will make the move about 10,000 square feet more than they have in their current offices at the Westfield Office Campus on Jordan Creek Parkway. It provides more space for training and multipurpose rooms for staff development.

The Atlas Building was attractive for its location, accessibility and amenities, and is designed to foster collaboration. It also offers a modern, engaging environment that reflects how Athene’s teams work, Sandy Stokely, executive vice president of insurance operations, said in an emailed statement.

“Athene is proud to create workspaces that reflect our long-term commitment to our employees and the community in West Des Moines,” she said. “The Atlas Building’s location and amenities make it a great fit for our teams and will help us continue providing a positive, collaborative work experience.”

Construction on Athene’s space began on Nov. 1. The company is expected to begin moving in in February and be finished by March 1.

Athene’s decision to lease space in the Atlas Building was part of its normal planning as its lease in its current building expires in March 2026. The move does not affect the company’s headquarters at 7700 Mills Civic Parkway.

WB Realty purchased the nearly 416,000-square-foot building from Wells Fargo in late 2023 for $16.5 million and began redesigning the space in early 2024.

So far, nine leases have been signed for space in the Atlas, with about 33% of the building leased.

Ryan Wiederstein, owner of WB Realty, said the company is pleased to welcome Athene to the Atlas building.

“Athene’s lease marks a significant milestone for both the property and the western suburbs office market,” he said in an emailed statement. “Choosing to relocate within the city of West Des Moines signifies high demand for Class A office space with exceptional amenities.”

For the Westfield complex, Athene’s departure is the first time since 2021 that a full floor will be available for lease, said Adam Kaduce, senior vice president with R&R Real Estate Advisors, the owner of the Westfield.

Kaduce cited the building’s blend of architectural design, modern amenities and functionality as he described why the building is attractive to tenants. Amenities include a two-story multi-purpose training space, Starbucks kiosk, a rooftop patio, executive conference room, a fitness center and underground parking.

“While the building has remained fully leased, we continue to receive inquiries from companies eager to locate here,” Kaduce said in an emailed statement. “Leasing activity is well underway, and we look forward to welcoming new businesses to the Westfield campus.”

For more about who’s moving into the Atlas building, read this story from our sister publication, dsm magazine about Michael LaVelle’s plans to open a cafe, restaurant, wine market and event space in the building.