WASHINGTON, DC-MRP Realty and ASB Real Estate Investments have selected Cassidy Turley’s Phillip Thomas, Will Stern and Kerri Mulligan Salih as their exclusive brokers for 900 G St., NW--a soon-to-be-developed 112,000-square-foot trophy office in the East End. Demolition on the existing building there will begin within weeks, Thomas tells GlobeSt.com.

This past Spring MRP and ASB decided to move forward with their decision to build an entirely new building at the site, instead of redeveloping it as originally planned. MRP first planned to renovate the property when it acquired it in a partnership with a Rockpoint-led JV. However, upon reflection both firms decided the office market in DC is strong enough—or will be strong enough—to support a new building when it delivers in mid-2014.

DC currently has higher vacancy rates than it is used to, Thomas notes, “but new construction  has lower vacancy rates, and in the East End especially demand for top-of-the-market space isn't diminishing. This will be one of a small handful of new construction options for firms seeking trophy space.”

The owners will be seeking top or trophy rents, he adds, although he declined to discuss specific numbers. The nine-story building will be approximately 112,000 square feet, designed to LEED Gold construction, with a glass curtain wall.

Thomas points to the building’s “flexible 30-by-40-foot column spacing, nine- and 10-foot finished ceiling heights” and a rooftop terrace with its own enclosed glass conference room as features that will help lease up the building. "Because of the boutique nature of the building and floor plates,"he says, "we'll have the best success with smaller tenants.”