Lida Lewis
PASSIONATE DESIGNER
EDUCATOR | THOUGHT LEADER
1101 16th Spec Suites
Akridge and Stars Investments redeveloped 1101 and 1111 Sixteenth Street into one, freestanding, 102,000-square-foot, Trophy class office building. The new property includes a full host of amenities including a fitness center, rooftop terrace, and ample parking. Located on a prominent corner adjacent to the new Fannie Mae headquarters, the property boasts a prestigious Sixteenth Street address and offers views of the White House.
For the fourth floor of this property, Akridge had us develop 4 spec suites to provide some options for quick-to-lease and smaller scale tenancies. We developed plans that provide the ability to easily connect several suites, or keep all 4 separate. Our palette was classic and just a bit upscale, fitting for the building and location. From there, we offered several variations on the theme of the base palette for tenants looking for a slightly different look than that of their neighbors.
Construction during the pandemic, this close to the white house in the same year as #BLM and the insurrection, and during an era of massive supply chain challenges was hardly easy. But, the management was helpful and decisive, the contractor knowledgeable and resourceful, and made it a lot easier to bend, change, and adjust to whatever came our way.
In the best test of spec suites there is, the suites have leased quickly (one before construction was complete, another two shortly thereafter), and interest has generally been strong.
"You’re starting to sound like a competitive developer...Huawei was, of course, a turn-key deal. I don’t know if you’ve seen their space since they took occupancy. The suite next door to Huawei is still vacant, but has garnered great interest and tours since the beginning of the year (post pandemic spike). The north suites are currently occupied by Hyundai on a short-term lease, which they signed last fall for the 12 mths of 2022."
While I don't have final space photography, below are images of the final space without a photo-ready cleanup, lighting, or professional camera--just me and my trusty Samsung phone!
