Inside Alexander Court, The 800K SF Project Combining 2 Downtown D.C. Buildings
Joint venture developments typically involve two companies fusing into one team, but for one of the largest D.C. projects to deliver this year, it involved two buildings combining into one.
Rockrose Development and Spitzer Enterprises recently completed Alexander Court, an 800K SF redevelopment that combined 2000 L St. NW and 2001 K St. NW and has experienced a successful lease-up campaign.
The centerpiece of the project is the 12-story atrium that connects the two formerly separate buildings. Currently decorated with a Christmas tree for the holiday season, the atrium looking out onto 20th Street has a glass ceiling, windows facing it from each floor of offices and a second-story walkway with a railing that overlooks the open area.
Alexander Court, designed by Pelli Clark Pelli Architects, has its main lobby on the corner of 20th and L streets NW, roughly three blocks from the Farragut North Metro station. It also has a smaller, secondary entrance on K Street.
The building has two elevators, one on each side, so office tenants that occupy a full floor have two access points, and those with a partial floor can still have their own private entrance off the elevator.
The development team last month signed Ruth's Chris Steak House to open a 9,247 SF restaurant on the 21st and L Street corner of the building. The third D.C. location for the popular national steakhouse chain is expected to open in the second half of 2019.
Alexander Court will also feature a Bright Horizons Daycare Center in a 3K SF space. The development team is in talks with an operator for a coffee shop and wine bar, Rockrose Development Corp. Director Ted Traum said.
The 800K SF of office space at the project is already roughly 80% leased, and Traum said additional deals are in the works.
Cornerstone Research, which signed on in July 2016 for 43K SF, and Bates White, which leased 85K SF in August 2017, have both already moved into the building. Law firm Akin Gump, which signed on in February 2017 for 185K SF, plans to move in the spring. Scoop News Group plans to move in mid-2019 into an 8K SF office.
The development's amenities include a 7,500 SF fitness center with a cardio machine area, a weight room and a yoga studio. It also has locker rooms and a bicycle storage room.
The building's rooftop features an indoor-outdoor amenity space with views across northwest D.C. and into Arlington. Inside, it has a conference room that seats up to 100 people and a catering facility for events. It also includes indoor office space that Scoop News leased.
The conference room has a retractable wall that opens to the outdoor terrace. The outdoor space is still under construction, but it will feature a green wall with a water feature and seating areas.
