Columbia Property Trust Completes DC’s First Mass Timber Office Space
This novel expansion attracted multiple new leases and renewals.
Columbia Property Trust Inc. has completed a three-floor, 108,000-square-foot expansion atop an existing office structure at 80 M St. in Washington, D.C. The project is D.C.’s first office project delivered with environmentally friendly mass timber. Hickok Cole was the architect in charge, DAVIS Construction oversaw construction management and Arup acted as engineering consultant.
The additional floors were completed on top of the 286,000-square-foot office building that dates back to 2001. The Capitol Riverfront property was purchased by the current ownership in 2004, for $105 million, CommercialEdge data shows.
More than 1,300 tons of mass timber were used for the project. The expansion and renovation of 80 M St. included improved amenities, a 5,000-square-foot penthouse terrace and lounge, an upgraded entry and lobby, a 136-seat modular conference center and a 2,300-square-foot fitness center.
The overhaul resulted in securing 140,000 square feet of leasing deals and renewals since the start of the renovation program. JLL‘s Executive Managing Director Doug Mueller and Senior Vice President Kristen Mathis negotiated the leases on behalf of the landlord, with the team being in charge of the remaining available space.
Heightened leasing activity at the upgraded 80 M St.
American Trucking Association will move its headquarters to the property and will occupy 60,000 square feet of the expansion space. Walmart signed a new, 21,000-square-foot long-term office lease with Columbia, while bp America will take 15,000 square feet of the new space. The property currently has 24,000 square feet of expansion space available.
Leasing activity at the property also included renewals and extensions, one of them being Gryphon Technologies’ 10,100-square-foot renewal, through 2028.
The developer is looking to achieve LEED Silver Core and Shell certification, along with a WELL Building Standard version 2 qualification for the new portion of the building. The original structure, consisting of the first seven stories, had already received LEED Gold, Energy Star, WiredScore Silver and Fitwel certifications.
Earlier this year, another recently renovated D.C. office building received a $82.1 million refinancing loan. Grosvenor’s 262,190-square-foot office building underwent a $20 million renovation focused on wellness and sustainability and attained LEED Gold certification, among other acknowledgements.
