American Bar Association set to move into new quarters

The American Bar Association announced Wednesday that it has entered into a 15-year lease with Washington Square Limited Partnership, LLP, at 1050 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, D.C., where it will occupy 61,000 square feet of the 707,000-square-foot building. This follows the Dec. 16, 2011, sale of its historic 175,000-square-foot building at 740 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C., a block from the White House. ABA staff and leadership spent nearly a year reviewing dozens of properties for lease or purchase before the ABA's Board of Governors approved the lease at 1050 Connecticut Ave. The ABA's new offices are in a central and convenient location with easy access to transportation and hotels. In its current facility, the ABA staff is spread over seven floors. The 1050 Connecticut Avenue location will house all 250 of the ABA's D.C.-based staff on one floor. "Although the current building has served the ABA well for nearly 20 years, the ABA occupies only 40 percent of the property and its staff is very dispersed," said Rives. "The new location allows the ABA to more efficiently utilize its space. With access to natural light on all four sides and an exceptional amenities package, the state-of-the-art facility offers an improved work environment for all employees," he added. The transaction comes on the heels of the ABA's long-term lease extension and renewal of 201,000 square feet of office space in Chicago last June. With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. Published: Thu, Mar 8, 2012