Union Square Adds the Department of Homeland Security to Client Roster

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Akridge today announced a new five-year lease with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 29,680 square feet at 999 North Capitol Street, NE, in the Union Square office complex. The agency will consolidate its Administrative Services Group from multiple locations into the two-building campus in the heart of NoMa. Owned by CIM Group and managed by Akridge, Union Square underwent extensive renovations earlier this year and has been leasing steadily to government entities, including the Internal Revenue Service, the DC Department of Health, and the Office of Personnel Management. DHS will take offices on the second floor of 999 North Capitol in the second quarter of 2012.

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"NoMa is the right place for DHS – and for other entities needing access to the Capitol, competitive lease rates, and proximity to an unparalleled transportation network – to be," said P. Brian Connolly, Senior Vice President of Akridge. "And Union Square's new finishes and features make it a great choice within NoMa."

Representing the landlord in the DHS lease were Ben Meisel and Katie Gorretta of Akridge, along with Cushman & Wakefield's Pete Marcin, Brian Sullivan, Matt Lynch, and Lauren LeHew. GSA provided their own representation for DHS. Union Square is now well over half leased, with upper floors still available in both buildings – 81,500 contiguous square feet remain at 999 North Capitol Street and 153,000 contiguous square feet are available in the south building, 899 North Capitol. With renovations that included new entryways, lobbies, elevators, and restrooms, as well as enhanced security features and a new fitness facility now finished, the development's first GSA Client, OPM, will move in this November.

About Akridge

Akridge is a comprehensive real estate services company that provides acquisition, development, construction management, asset management, property management, leasing and consulting services. Since 1999, Akridge has won ten national Best in the Industry awards for Client satisfaction from the industry's foremost benchmarking firm, CEL & Associates. The Akridge organization has been honored with the National Capital Business Ethics Award, awarded by the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and has also been recognized as the Best Place to Work in Greater Washington according to the Washington Business Journal. For more information, please visit www.akridge.com.

About CIM Group

CIM Group is a premier real estate fund manager that makes private equity and/or debt investments in urban communities throughout North America, utilizing its full array of investment and operational expertise to maximize returns while mitigating risks. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Bethesda, Maryland, CIM has three distinct portfolios each diversified by geography and type of property. They include: Opportunistic or repositioning and development projects in established and emerging urban areas, Stabilized/Core or well-positioned operating properties in transitional districts, and Infrastructure or properties serving the public interest. Once involved in a qualified community, CIM seeks to routinely make additional investments in order to support the growth of the community and enhance the value of its previous investments. For more information, please visit www.cimgroup.com.

About DHS

The United States The Department of Homeland Security's mission is to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards. Our efforts are supported by an ever-expanding set of partners. Every day, the more than 230,000 men and women of the Department contribute their skills and experiences to this important mission. Our duties are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear: a safer, more secure America. For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov.

SOURCE Akridge