How 6 Tech Companies Take Up DC Space
DC-area companies lease a whopping 273M SF of space, according to JLL. And some of the region's biggest footprints are being created by tech companies. We looked at how six of them occupy space:
Neustar
Local presence: Three in Sterling; one in McLean; one in DC
Local employees: 690
Local SF: 250k
Neustar, which provides cloud-based information services and analysis, moved into its Sterling HQ at Ridgetop III in 2010, taking 92k SF until 2020. Spokeswoman Lara Wyss says the company has been consolidating offices by moving more locations into urban settings in LEED-certified buildings like its San Fran office (above). It means better talent attraction and retention and a smaller overall carbon footprint.
Microstrategy
Local presence: Tysons HQ; 24 offices all over the world
Local employees: 951 in Tysons; over 1,000 more all over the world
Local SF: 233k
Microstrategy, a provider of software platforms founded by Michael Saylor (above) in the late ‘80s, has been at its corporate HQ in Tysons since October 2010 and will be there until at least 2020, when its lease expires. Its building is one of the most iconic in the heart of Tysons. Microstrategy went through some rightsizing earlier this year when it shed 19k SF, which it said it never used, as part its restructuring plan.
K12
Local presence: Herndon
Local employees: 850
Local SF: 176k
K12, which sells an online grade school curriculum, grew quickly in Herndon, yet the space wasn’t added or built in the most efficient manner, says finance VP Mike Kraft. K12 is in the midst of "evaluating its needs and potentially reconfiguring its space." Meantime, it’s using hoteling and has replaced offices with more open space.
Cvent
Local presence: Tysons
Local employees: 675
Local SF: 130k SF
Cvent CEO Reggie Aggarwal gave Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe a tour of Cvent's new Tysons HQ last August. Cvent designed its new space with the help of employees across all departments. The result was over 70 glass-walled conference rooms and open breakout areas with themes like “beach retreat.” The rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art video conferencing technology so employees can collaborate with colleagues around the world. A large lounge area on the main floor has a free soda fountain, custom coffee drinks and over 30 Keurig coffee machines. Ping pong tables and video games are provided for mental health breaks.
Blackboard
Local presence: DC, Reston and Chantilly
Local employees: 450
Local SF: 109k
The 20-year-old edtech firm recently announced it would move its DC HQ to 1111 19th St, a 72k SF space. The company also recently opened a 9,200 SF office in Reston, which is serving as a model for how Blackboard would like to design its 30 global offices—a mix of open and collaborative workspaces, private offices and lots of conference rooms. Blackboard VP Michael Stanton says the new HQ will have a client engagement center, which will allow clients to experience the company’s products more visually.
Booz Allen Hamilton
Local presence: DC, Crystal City, McLean, Herndon, Alexandria, Rockville, Fairview Park, Virginia Square and Skyline.
Local employees: 11,000
Local SF: 1.2M
Booz Allen's SF has dropped over the past five years as the company uses more hoteling and new workplace design and strategies. Some of the changes have included private/semi-private work areas, collaboration space, privacy booths, touchdown space, quiet zones and lounge areas. The company, which provides management consulting, technology and engineering services, says the changes have improved employee engagement, and helped manage organizational changes and real estate expenses.
