McLEAN, VA—TEGNA, the broadcasting arm that was spun off from the former Gannett Co., has closed on the $270 million sale of its headquarters. The buyer is a joint venture between the London-based Tamares Group and Finland's pension fund.

The trade is significant not only from TEGNA's perspective -- selling its headquarters is part of the publisher's larger plan to improve its financials -- but also from the market's point of view. CBRE, which brokered the deal, says it is the largest capital market single building sale in Northern Virginia to date.

"The significance of this sale is extraordinary for Northern Virginia and the industry," CBRE Vice Chairman Rob Faktorow says in a prepared statement.

TEGNA has secured a short-term lease as part of the deal, remaining in the building for 18 months while it seeks a new headquarters. The print division of the former Gannett Co., which puts out USA Today, will stay in the building in a 12-year lease.

Located at 7950 Jones Branch Dr., the property is rather unique for teeming mass of buildings that has become Tysons. Set on an 17-acre site, it has outdoor water features, trails and sports courts. There is also a 350-seat auditorium, conference facilities, and the now obligatory fitness center.

Tamares has ambitious plans for repositioning the complex into a multi-tenancy building, Faktorow also said.

Besides Faktorow, Meredith LaPier, Tom Cleaver and Dan Grimes of CBRE's McLean, VA office represented TEGNA.