Some days we must not have enough to do, so we just go around popping into offices to see whats up. Be sure to dress well, in case we show up unannounced.
We popped into HITTs Fairfax office yesterday to congratulate Steve Richbourg, promoted Jan 1 to EVP of HITT Interiors, here with company president Jim Millar. Steve tells us theyre the largest interior contractor in the DC area, and getting ready to wrap the base buildings (650k SF) for Boston Properties South of Market out in Reston in the next 30 days. And theyre about to break ground for their own new LEED certified, 3-story, 120k SF HQ headquarters in Fairview Park, consolidating 675 local employees who are now housed in four different buildings off Lee Highway.
LOWE ON A HIGH!
We also popped in recently to Lowe Enterprises offices on Connecticut Avenue, where Eastern Regional president Mike Balaban, above, told us about their big January plans to acquire 500k SF in Crystal City: the two-tower Jefferson Plaza (seller is Equity Group Investors) which will put their portfolio in that neighborhood over the 1M SF mark. Theyve also started on the renovation of the Washington Hilton, and here Mike, a die-hard Red Sox fan, shows us an 1889 teampicture he found in the basement of the hotel, which they bought with Canyon Johnson last June.
Although Lowes Harmar Thompson has now used up his 2008 quota for pictures in this publication, we popped into his office to see plans from their NY-based architect, Beyer, Blinder, Belle. The $140M 1,100-room Hilton makeover will also add a new junior ballroom, 170 condo units that back Florida Ave, and a possible cool new rooftop terrace.
REAL ESTATERS: JUST LIKE US!
Just like US Weekly shows pictures of celebrities doing ordinary things like jogging or pumping gas, we would like to show that real estate people are real. Here, at their December Book Club, discussing Holidays on Ice are WashingtonGroup Sales Michelle Fair, Akridges Katie Burton and Mary Margaret Hiller, KTA Groups Amy Talton, HNTBs Carrie Cooke, and Bisnows Stacey Pfarr. This picture conclusively demonstrates that they are all very intellectual, with the possible exception of Katie, who seems to be holding her book upside down.
If you havent seen BLT maitre d Adam Williamowsky lately, its because hes on his honeymoon in Cambodia! Just to remind you what he looks like, here he is a few weeks ago with patron Becky Owen, general counsel and head of acquisitions of Clark Enterprises. Becky was dining with CBRE’s camera-shy Scott Frankel to discuss leasing opportunities at the great Capitol Viewwhich you would all be foolish not to take advantage of.
This is a little extraneous, but thought youd enjoy it. Our own Elliott Bisnow is in Las Vegas this week, reporting for our Tech publication on the amazing Consumer Electronics Show. He took this picture of Bill Gates giving his eighth annual presentation there. Its also Gates last, because hes retiring this summer from Microsoft. As part of his speech, he showed a pretty hilarious video.
