First Pier-Top Office Building Planned for DC

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

Pier 4 at The Wharf, courtesy of Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

Washington—Something never before seen in the Washington, D.C., office market is on the way. Hoffman-Madison Waterfront just announced Pier 4, the first office building to be erected on a pier in the District. The 28,000-square-foot structure will be part of The Wharf, HMW’s transformative, $2 billion mixed-use project in the city’s Southwest Waterfront area.

Pier 4 will be a sight—and a site—to see, jutting 260 feet into the Potomac River. “In a city as storied as our Nation’s Capital, it is rare to encounter office space that can offer something truly new to the market. Being directly on the water, and being immersed in the activity along The Wharf are an experience that simply can’t be offered anywhere else in the city,” said Monty Hoffman, founder & CEO of PN Hoffman. HMW is a joint venture of Madison Marquette and PN Hoffman.

However, there’s more to Pier 4 than its views and vibes. The Class A property, designed by architecture firm McGraw Bagnoli, will qualify for LEED Gold Core and Shell certification.

Commercial real estate services firm JLL is spearheading leasing at Pier 4. The first floor of the three-story structure has already been claimed, leaving square footage for the taking on the second and third floors, both of which feature private terraces. HMW declined to comment on just who grabbed the first floor, but it appears McGraw Bagnoli spilled the beans–well, at least some of them. Per the architecture firm’s website, Entertainment Cruises will house its headquarters at the building.

HMW doesn’t expect to have too much of a problem finding takers for Pier 4. In prepared remarks, Amer Hammour, chairman of Madison Marquette, attested that nowhere in the country will tenants be able to find another property featuring the views, amenities and architectural character found at Pier 4. “The Wharf is a world-class destination, and we are receiving interest regionally and nationally,” Hammour told Commercial Property Executive. Ultimately, The Wharf will feature a total of 945,000 square feet of office space, as well as 175,000 square feet of retail space, three hotels and a 6,000-person concert hall. And of course, a regional water-taxi hub will be offered at the site, as well as four public piers and 10 acres of waterfront green space.

The initial phase of The Wharf, including Pier 4, is on schedule to debut Oct. 12, 2017.