The firm's strategy--at least in the beginning--is to concentrate on the outer ring suburbs of Northern Virginia, Gonzalez tells GlobeSt.com. "For most of our careers we have found that the growth markets are in such counties as Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford and even Spotsylvania. As the core markets become more and more congested we are seeing employers and employees moving to these exurbs," referring to extra-urban commuter towns.

Appian is starting off with a $350 million pipeline, mainly from former clients. Right now it is overseeing $150 million of projects that are under construction or about to go under construction, Gonzalez says. Another $200 million of its pipeline consists of future projects. Services the firm offers include landlord and tenant representation, disposition and investment sales, equity/joint venture financing, development consultation and construction management.

Projects underway include Westpark Corporate Center, a 100,000-sf office in Fredericksburg; Innovation Executive Center in Manassas, a 640,000-sf office /flex development; a 250,000 sf office/retail development called Village at Heathcote in Haymarket; Offices on Park Avenue, a 32,000-sf office condo development in Falls Church; Interstate Overlook, a 150,000-sf office/flex development in Woodbridge; Discovery Center 1, otherwise known as Mediatech, a 110,000-sf build to suit project, in Manassas; Discovery Center 2, a 80,000-sf office development in Manassas; and the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, also in Manassas.