 |
 |
|
Photo: Lautman Photography |
National Association
of Realtors®
Washington, DC
Karchem's Role: Project Manager
Size: 60,000 SF
Year Built: 1956
Budget: $7.3 million
Schedule: 12 months
Other Project: In 1996, NAR retained Karchem Properties to direct the demolition of its former,
100,000-SF headquarters on 14th Street, NW.
Working with NAR and its broker, Karchem Properties evaluated the occupancy costs of renovating its existing offices versus leasing space in a new office building. After choosing space in a new building, Karchem Properties assisted NAR in lease negotiations and managed the build-out and relocation to 700 Eleventh Street, NW.
Karchem Properties assisted NAR's broker in comparing the occupancy cost of NAR's existing headquarters building, constructed in 1950, to alternative space in Class A buildings. Karchem concluded that new space would offer a more effective layout for NAR operations and reduce its occupancy cost. NAR was able to go from 80,000 SF to 60,000 SF and greatly improved its productivity by locating departments that worked together on the same floor.
Karchem Properties recommended a real estate attorney and assisted the attorney and broker in negotiating NAR's lease. In addition, Karchem Properties assisted NAR in retaining an architect and a contractor, and in negotiating their agreements.
The project's greatest challenge was to meet a 12-month schedule that would typically require an 18-month timeline. To make the deadline, Karchem Properties pulled a permit for each floor so that work could begin as soon as the construction documents for that floor were completed.
As part of its scope of services, Karchem Properties coordinated the procurement and installation of furnishings and equipment totaling $2.3 million. For NAR, the shift from enclosed offices to workstations for most of its staff was a dramatic change. Therefore, Karchem Properties coordinated the presentation of mock-up workstations from three manufacturers to provide staff with the opportunity to vote on the product to be ordered. Over 200 workstations were purchased. Karchem Properties also managed the design and construction of a sound studio and installation of video conferencing and PCTV in the offices.
After completing NAR's new offices, Karchem Properties coordinated the demolition of NAR's former headquarters, a 13-story, 100,000-SF building at 777 Fourteenth Street, NW. Karchem Properties managed the construction of a parking lot as an interim use, negotiated a parking agreement with Marc Parc, and worked with the adjacent church during construction.
Your staff helped us achieve our goals by virtue of your talent, competence and persistence. Karchem Properties won our trust and we relied on your knowledge and experience throughout the project.
- Nestor R. Weigand, Jr., Chair, Real Property Operations Committee
|
