Project
The J Street Companies, began working with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (“MPR”), along with its subsidiary, the Center for Studying Health System Change, in 1989 as its exclusive tenant representative in the greater Washington DC region. MPR is a nonpartisan research firm providing a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research assessment and interpretation and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. MPR’s clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Michigan, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of disability, health care, education, family support, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs. In 2009, MPR made the decision to vacate its former Washington, DC office located at 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, where the space could not accommodate the necessary growth and modernization the company required. J Street represented MPR in its search for approximately 125,000 square feet of new replacement office space.
Challenges
At the time MPR was in the market looking for space, large blocks of available space were limited, requiring a search of locations across the greater Washington area, including suburban Virginia and Maryland. Access to public transportation, lease economics and space functionality supporting MPR’s corporate culture and brand were the drivers that allowed MPR to differentiate between the
available choices.
Solutions
Aggressive canvassing of available large blocks of space within the Washington region was undertaken. J Street assembled a team that not only included brokers, attorneys and architects but also included project management expertise to ensure MPR got the most value out of its construction dollars and arranged financial consulting to weigh in on the tax advantages of various locales. The real estate team was headed up by MPR’s Vice President of Administration, Patty Fenner, reporting directly to MPR’s President and CFO on this important project. Working closely with Geoff and his team, Patty directed the process, incorporating valuable input from local personnel and management while advancing new corporate standards greatly improving space utilization and economics.
Results
In January 2011, Mathematica executed a 15 year lease for 125,429 square feet at 1100 First Street, N.E., a new building developed by Tishman Speyer in the NoMa submarket of Washington, D.C. The space is located on the top four floors in the building with adequate room for future expansion and growth over time and parapet signage to build strong identity in this exciting new part of downtown. Additionally, J Street provided project and construction management for MPR’s build out of the space. J Street also represented MPR in the subleasing of approximately 10,000 square feet of short-term growth space. Most importantly, the move to a new neighborhood and structure created a new workplace for MPR, advancing their mission in concert with their existing corporate culture and positioning them for opportunities in the 21st century.