McDermott Will & Emery LLP said Monday it has signed a letter of intent with Clark Enterprises and Boston Properties to occupy 165,000 square feet of Class A, office space on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
McDermott will relocate its offices from 600 13th Street, NW to a new home at 500 North Capitol Street, in November 2012. The new location will be within steps of the U.S. Congress, the Supreme Court, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission Annex and other federal buildings.
McDermott will be the primary occupant at the new location. The building will be known as “The McDermott Building,“ with signage clearly identifying the firm. As part of the deal, which is subject to approval by the Commission of Fine Arts, the building will be completely renovated and upgraded with state-of-the art technology, including new mechanical and electrical systems, elevators, and an entirely new, glass façade. The building is being designed to achieve LEED Certification through the US Green Building Council.
“This location confirms McDermott’s strong commitment to the Washington market,” said Peter J. Sacripanti, Co-Chair of McDermott Will & Emery. “We view Washington, DC as a key growth market for the firm, and we are bullish about our prospects for business growth here. Our move to 500 North Capitol Street, with its prime location at the heart of our national government, is a perfect illustration of our strategy.”
McDermott Will will have extensive input into the design of key building features, reflective of a trophy- class building, the firm said in a press release. The building will incorporate many “custom” features for McDermott, including a top floor conference center with views of the U.S. Capitol, roof top terrace with a 360 degree, panoramic view of the DC landscape, a fitness center, and a ground floor plaza area.
McDermott’s Washington, D.C. opened in 1978 with two lawyers and is now comprised of 220 attorneys and 190 staff.