KBS Signs Over 20,000 Square Feet in Leases with RSM US, LLP and ManpowerGroup at One Washingtonian Center

2019 MAY 20 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Daily Real Estate News -- KBS, one of the largest owners of commercial real estate, announced the signing of 21,927 square feet in leases at One Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. RSM US, LLP, a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, and ManpowerGroup, a leader in innovative workforce solutions, both signed new leases. The property is part of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, a non-traded real estate investment trust.

The building contains 314,175 rentable square feet and has earned the coveted LEED-EB Platinum certification. The property is approximately 30 minutes northwest from downtown Washington, D.C., and provides superior access to major highways and the Inter-County Connector, Maryland’s “outer beltway.” KBS is currently modernizing several areas in the property to make it a best-in-class experience.

“One Washingtonian Center offers its tenants countless opportunities for entertainment and shopping thanks to its access to the RIO shopping center next door, which is currently undergoing a $30 million renovation,” said Stephen Close, senior vice president of acquisitions for KBS and asset manager of the property. “We see the appreciation that current tenants have for a location like this, and it’s a great fit for world-class companies such as RSM US, LLP and ManpowerGroup.”

According the CBRE’s Q1 2019 Suburban Maryland Office Market View, the Maryland market is growing. Investment sales activity was up 39 percent from the previous quarter and nine of the quarter’s top 10 office transactions took place in Montgomery County.

“One Washingtonian Center was 93 percent leased when we first acquired the building, and interest continues to grow in the property and surrounding areas,” said Marc DeLuca, regional president, Eastern United States for KBS. “We have signed several leases with growing technology tenants that are quickly changing the dynamics of the community.”

According to the Montgomery County Trends Report, the office market in Montgomery County has experienced steady growth over the past 24 years, with the lion’s share of that growth, nearly 90 percent, consisting of Class A office space with consistently positive net absorption rates.

“Location plays a pivotal role and One Washingtonian Center is considered one of the most prominent buildings within the 212-acre Washingtonian Center,” said David Machlin, senior vice president of CBRE, who brokered the deals for KBS. “Smart, creative and growing companies are moving to this area. It’s a great choice for D.C. tenants who are looking to escape the capital city’s higher prices.”

Please find photos of One Washingtonian Center here.

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