Columbia Property Trust Bolsters NYC Presence

Adam Popper will be based in Columbia Property Trust’s New York City offices.

NEW YORK CITY—A real estate veteran and a former managing principal at Westbrook Partners, Adam I. Popper has been named SVP-eastern region for Atlanta-based Columbia Property Trust . Popper, who will work out of the REIT’s New York City offices, will serve on Columbia’s investment committee and will direct investment activity and lead the firm’s asset management teams in the eastern U.S. His primary focus will be on existing assets and future opportunities in three of the company’s key markets—New York City, Washington, DC and Boston. His appointment is effective on Feb. 29. He comes to Columbia Property Trust after most recently serving as a member of the investment committee of Westbrook Partners , where he participated in new partner development and acquisition and value enhancement activities within the US, the company states. Prior to joining Westbrook in 2013, he was a senior vice president and director of US office acquisitions for Vornado Realty Trust , where he was primarily responsible for office acquisitions for the firm. His prior experience included serving as a managing director of Beacon Capital Partners, where he led Beacon’s investment strategy in the New York metropolitan area, and as a senior director of Tishman Speyer Properties , where he led the firm’s acquisition efforts in the eastern US. “It’s been our longstanding commitment to build capable, experienced and respected teams in our key markets. New York City is now our second largest market, and the natural center from which to execute our high-barrier strategy for the eastern U.S. We are very pleased to bring Adam Popper on board to lead our efforts in New York, Washington, D.C. and Boston,” states Nelson Mills , president and CEO of Columbia Property Trust. “Similar to what we’ve achieved on the West Coast with Dave Dowdney and our strong team in San Francisco, Adam will help us strengthen our management capabilities as well as expand our relationships and opportunities in these key eastern markets.” According to the company’s website, its portfolio in New York City includes: 222 E. 41st St., a 25-story 372,000-square-foot Class A office tower; 229 West 43rd St., a 16-story 481,000-square-foot Class A building and 315 Park Ave. South., a 20-story 328,000-square-foot building. Last month, Columbia Property Trust reported that fitness club chain Equinox had signed a 20-year lease for 44,458 square feet at 315 Park Ave. South. The lease, which is expected to commence in May, brings the property to 88.2% leased. The company’s Washington DC holdings include 80 M St., a seven-story 285,000-square-foot office building at the Navy Yard and Market Square, a twin 13-story office complex located on Pennsylvania Avenue totaling 687,000 square feet. Columbia Property Trust also owns 116 Huntington Ave., a 15-story, 271,000-square-foot office building in Boston’s Back Bay.