Cognizant pre-leases 6.5 lakh sq ft in Chennai for US Bancorp GCC

US-based  has pre-leased around 6.5 lakh sq ft of office space in Chennai to establish a Global Capability Centre for , in what is considered one of the largest office leasing deals in the city in recent times.

The space has been taken up at , located along the strategically important Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Road, a key IT corridor that continues to attract strong demand from global firms. The entire Block 1 of the development has been pre-leased, with project delivery expected by June, according to industry sources.

This transaction comes at a crucial time for Chennai’s GCC ecosystem. The city has recently witnessed some churn, with select global firms shifting operations to other metros like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. However, this large-scale commitment by Cognizant reinforces Chennai’s position as a preferred destination for global capability centres, especially due to its talent pool, infrastructure growth, and cost advantages.

Sources indicate that Cognizant will not only establish the GCC but also manage operations for US Bancorp, likely under a build-operate-transform-transfer model. This reflects a growing trend in the GCC space, where service providers are increasingly offering end-to-end solutions rather than just infrastructure support.

For , this deal stands out as the largest leasing transaction of the quarter, with Chennai emerging as a key contributor to its overall leasing momentum. The REIT has reported strong demand from GCCs, which continue to drive office space absorption across major Indian cities.

The development also signals a broader shift in how multinational companies are expanding in India, with flexible and scalable workspace strategies gaining traction. As more global firms look to strengthen their India presence, Chennai is expected to remain a strong contender, supported by improving connectivity and a steady pipeline of Grade A office developments.