WASHINGTON — A $60-million renovation is coming for one of downtown D.C.’s most prominent office buildings.
Metropolitan Square, at 655 15th St. NW, calls the White House a neighbor and overlooks the Treasury Department. It is also home to Old Ebbitt Grill, the highest-grossing independent restaurant in D.C.
Metropolitan Square is also more than 20 percent vacant, so owners Boston Properties, Blackstone and Equity Office hope the top-to-bottom renovation will attract top-notch tenants to their trophy property.
Architectural firm Gensler has been brought on for the redesign.
The 670,000-square-foot building will get a new lobby and atrium glass, new common areas, a fitness center, a tenant lounge, a new conference facility, private event spaces, and a rooftop terrace.
Renovations are expected to be completed in 2020.
Newmark Knight Frank has been named leasing agent for Metropolitan Square.
“The building’s powerful location combined with the new renovations will result in Met Square once again becoming one of Washington’s most coveted assets,” said Brendan Owen, Newmark Knight Frank’s chairman of asset services.
Metropolitan Square was built in 1982. WeWork recently leased 117,000 square feet for a shared workspace.
The building’s top three floors, totaling 140,000 square feet, are vacant.
