Columbia Property Trust lands 72,000 s/f in leases as amenity overhaul is completed at 1800 M St.

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, AAFP & AWHONN anchor office activity at 565,000 s/f office tower

Nicholas Waring Photography ©

Washington, DC — Columbia Property Trust, Inc. has finalized more than 72,000 s/f of office and retail leasing at 1800 M St., its recently repositioned 565,000 s/f office tower in the heart of Washington, DC’s Central Business District.

Over the past two years, Columbia has secured over 242,000 s/f in leases, bringing the building to 83% leased. This momentum corresponds with its recent completion of a series of enhancements to 1800 M St.’s amenities program. Columbia recently introduced an expansive conference facility and lounge, as well as a reimagined rooftop terrace, lobby and concourse level.

Columbia is also adding Sorn Thai to the building’s street-level experience. The popular McLean, VA restaurant will expand with a DC location in 4,095 s/f at the base of 1800 M St. Under a 10-year lease, the southern Thai-inspired restaurant is set to open in February 2027.

“What we’ve created at 1800 M is an environment where the experience of coming to work is something people genuinely look forward to. The redesigned spaces, the caliber of the tenant community, the dining and wellness options – every piece is deliberate,” said Ted Koltis, Columbia’s executive vice president and Head of Real Estate. “That’s what today’s leading organizations are seeking for their people, and it’s why the tenant community at 1800 M continues to grow and deepen. Sorn Thai is the natural next addition to that ecosystem.”

This wave of office leasing activity includes:

• Wilkinson Barker Knauer signed an eight-year extension for its 33,971 s/f office on the eighth floor, keeping the firm at 1800 M through 2037;

• A communications and public affairs firm signed a 6,288 s/f expansion and an eight-year extension, growing its headquarters to 15,061 s/f through 2034;

• The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) signed a nine-year renewal for 9,574 s/f on the seventh floor, extending its tenure through February 2035; and

• The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) signed a new 10-year lease for 9,658 s/f on the fifth floor and will relocate from nearby 1133 Connecticut Ave. this fall.

Working with global design practice Perkins&Will, Columbia’s new conference facility features a lounge with an array of seating areas and a catering pantry.

Columbia was represented in-house by Koltis and Maria Blake, VP of Real Estate and a Cushman & Wakefield team of Mark Wooters, James Collins, and Gina Damond for the office leases. A Dochter & Alexander Retail Advisors team of Matthew Alexander, David Dochter and Elena Alexander worked with Columbia’s in-house team on the retail lease.

Wilkinson Barker Knauer was represented by Gary Stein and Jon Glass of Savills and Ben Plaisted and Greg Scheipers of CBRE. Jonathan Harms and Ben Whitman of Cresa represented AAFP. Manny Fitzgerald and Jack Evans of CBRE represented AWHONN. Sorn Thai was represented by William Heinsen of Sigmund Co.