Culver City Office Space Cost at 3525 Eastham Drive: The Complete Guide to Rent, Fees and Move-In Expenses

By Nina Steiner Call/Text 310.487.2982

Leasing office space at 3525 Eastham Drive in Culver City is appealing for teams who want to be near Jefferson Boulevard, Sony, Amazon Studios, Ivy Station, and Culver Steps without sitting in the busiest parts of Hayden Tract or Downtown Culver City. It’s a convenient, practical micro-location with better parking options than most surrounding pockets. But like many office buildings in Culver City, the rent on the flyer only tells part of the story.

When comparing office options, tenants often overlook the expenses that sit outside the quoted rental rate. These additional costs can change the full monthly budget by thousands of dollars, especially once you add parking, operating expenses, utilities, deposits, improvements, and technology setup.

This expanded guide breaks down the true cost of leasing at 3525 Eastham Drive so you can plan accurately, avoid surprises, and negotiate from a position of clarity.

Start With the Base Numbers (Then Add Everything Else)

Buildings around Eastham, Hannum Avenue, and Jefferson Boulevard tend to fall within a predictable range for quoted rent and operating expenses. These numbers form your baseline.

Typical Base Rent
• $3.75 to $5.00 per square foot
• Influenced by suite size, layout, improvements, and demand

Typical Operating Expenses (OPEX/CAM)
• $0.85 to $1.20 per square foot

Typical Annual Increases
• 3 to 4 percent

If you lease 2,200 square feet at $4.25 per square foot, your base rent is $9,350. Once you factor in operating expenses, parking, utilities, and other essentials, your actual monthly number often increases to $11,500 to $12,200 or more.

This is why understanding every cost category matters—your budget depends on it.

Six Hidden Costs Tenants Miss at 3525 Eastham Drive

Below are the categories that tend to catch people by surprise. When added together, these often shift the total cost more than anything in the lease.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, also known as OPEX or CAM, cover the essential day-to-day building operations. In this Culver City pocket, these typically include:

• Property taxes
• Insurance
• Security
• Repairs and maintenance
• Landscaping
• Janitorial (included in some buildings, excluded in others)

OPEX Range
• $0.85 to $1.20 per square foot

For 2,200 square feet
• $1,870 to $2,640 per month

This line item alone can swing your all-in budget by several hundred dollars depending on the building.

Parking Costs

Parking is one of the largest variable expenses for tenants at 3525 Eastham Drive. This area has a mix of gated and surface parking, and most tenants need more spaces than they initially estimate.

Typical Monthly Rates
• Reserved parking: $150 to $200 per stall
• Unreserved parking: $120 to $160 per stall

Example for eight unreserved stalls at $165 each
• $1,320 per month

For many teams, parking becomes the biggest surprise expense because it isn’t always listed clearly in marketing materials. Production teams and writers rooms, who often have more drive-in staff, feel this the most.

Utilities and HVAC

Utilities are often separately metered at 3525 Eastham, which means your usage directly affects your costs. Teams who work long days, run extra equipment, or need after-hours HVAC should budget more.

Typical Utility Costs
• Electricity: $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot
• Internet: $250 to $600 per month
• HVAC overtime: $75 to $150 per hour

Most tenants fall into the range of:
• $450 to $650 per month

Writers rooms or teams that run late often need HVAC after hours, which can add several hundred dollars per month depending on the schedule.

Security Deposit Requirements

Culver City landlords commonly require one to three months of gross rent depending on the lease length, tenant financials, and improvement requests.

If your all-in monthly cost is around $11,700
• A two-month deposit is $23,400 upfront

This is one of the largest initial cash commitments for tenants signing a new lease.

Tenant Improvements and Move-In Costs

Even when a space is clean and functional, most tenants invest in at least some improvements before moving in. Small upgrades can make a big difference in creating a polished, professional environment that supports daily operations.

Typical Improvement Costs
• Basic cosmetic updates: $10 to $18 per square foot
• Light creative refresh: $25 to $40 per square foot
• Full creative buildout: $45 to $80 per square foot

Example for a 2,200 square foot suite with $20 per square foot in improvements
• $44,000

Depending on the term and your negotiation strategy, landlords may offset this through improvement allowances or free rent.

Technology Setup

Technology setup is one of the most overlooked budgeting items, yet it’s essential for a functional modern office. This includes everything from low-voltage cabling to video conferencing and access control.

Typical Tech Costs
• Low-voltage cabling: $2,000 to $8,000
• Conference room technology: $3,000 to $12,000
• Access control system setup: $300 to $1,200

Teams that need secure entry, hybrid meeting setups, or high-speed connectivity almost always fall into the mid- to upper ranges.

Sample Budget: 2,200 Square Feet at 3525 Eastham Drive

Here’s how these numbers come together.

Monthly Costs
• Base rent: $9,350
• Operating expenses: around $2,200
• Parking (eight stalls): $1,320
• Utilities and internet: $520

Total Estimated Monthly Cost
• $13,390

Upfront Costs
• Security deposit (two months): $26,780
• Improvements and furniture: $12,000 to $30,000
• Technology setup: $4,500

Total Estimated Upfront Cost
• $43,280 to $61,280

This gives you a realistic picture of what it takes to get fully set up and operational in this building.

Why Tenants Choose 3525 Eastham Drive

Even with multiple cost categories to consider, this location remains a sought-after choice because it offers:

• Easy access to Jefferson, Sepulveda, and the 405
• Proximity to Amazon Studios, Apple + and Culver Steps
• Walkable food and coffee options on Washington Boulevard
• A quiet professional setting compared to Hayden Tract
• Better parking ratios than Downtown Culver City

Companies that want Culver City without the congestion often gravitate toward Eastham because it provides convenience, access, and stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does move-in usually take
• Turnkey suites: two to four weeks
• Light improvements: four to eight weeks
• Creative buildouts: eight to sixteen weeks

Are short-term leases available
• Yes. Many landlords here offer twelve to twenty-four month terms
• Longer terms may unlock improvement dollars or free rent

What is the biggest unexpected cost
• Parking. Teams routinely underestimate how many stalls they need, which adds $1,200 to $2,000 per month for an eight- to twelve-person group.

By Nina Steiner Call/Text 310.487.2982

Nina Steiner

I’ve always been someone who reads the room.

It started in live television, where timing was everything and silence usually meant something was on fire. With years of experience behind the scenes in TV production, I learned how to stay calm, think creatively, and resolve issues before they become problems.

Now, 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘅𝘂𝗺 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁, I bring that same mindset to commercial real estate.

It’s not about pushing space, it’s about understanding people. When someone tells me they need an office, what they mean is:
“𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨, 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣.”

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻.

I don’t just lease office space. I help you get the right space at the right price!

Nina Steiner – TenantRepLA
Text: 310-487-2982
Email: nsteiner@saxumwest.com
Website: TenantRepLA.com