Walker & Dunlop Moves into New Headquarters at The Wilson
Commercial real estate finance company Walker & Dunlop recently announced that it had moved into its newly constructed headquarters in Bethesda, Md. The firm has leased floors 12 through 14 at The Wilson, a mixed-use development completed in 2021 by Carr Properties. Specifically, the company now occupies 59,000 square feet of suburban Washington, D.C. office space for rent in the new, 295-foot tower. The move was part of an effort to expand its operations and upgrade its work environment to a wellness-centric space in a trophy office project.
The 23-story office building features a variety of amenities, including a fully equipped, 6,900-square-foot fitness center; an indoor penthouse and outdoor terrace on the rooftop overlooking downtown Bethesda; a secure bike room; a parking garage with more than 450 parking spaces; and an advanced HVAC system that circulates 75% outside air throughout the building.
Carr’s efforts to raise the bar for healthy buildings by implementing robust technology and preventive health and safety measures has earned The Wilson a LEED Gold certification from the USGBC.
Walker & Dunlop’s suite, in particular, was custom-designed by architecture firm Gensler to promote the tenant’s unique brand, collaborative culture and focus on community. With a focus on flexibility and collaboration, the space combines brainstorming areas, focus rooms and a wellness facility on each of the three floors. Moreover, COVID-safe considerations have resulted in features including advanced MEP and HVAC design; touchless technology; glass dividers; and more than six feet of workspace.
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Award-Winning Washington, D.C. Office Space for Lease
The Wilson is part of a 940,000-square-foot, mixed-use development, which also includes The Elm — a two-tower residential development that incorporates some 450 apartments. Upon completion, the ensemble was recognized by Engineering News-Record as the 2021 “Best Mixed-Use Development in the Mid-Atlantic region.”
The Wilson was also recognized with a 2020 Project of the Year award by the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association of Greater Washington, D.C. (CREBA). In fact, the lease deal itself was so significant in the market that it earned a 2020 CREBA Maryland Lease Transaction of the Year award for all parties involved.
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With the signing of Walker & Dunlop to the three-floor lease in 2020, Carr Properties brought the 362,643 square-foot office building to 100% occupancy during the pre-leasing campaign. The notably complex lease required the relocation of an existing tenant to make enough contiguous space, as well as the renegotiation of other leases to accommodate Walker & Dunlop’s needs.
CBRE’s Brad Wilner, Lou Christopher and Charlie Carroccio represented the tenant, while Carr Properties was represented by Kaitlyn Rausse, Jackson Prentice and Jason Bockenek, along with Phil McCarthy, Keith Foery and Erin Kurucza of Transwestern.
