Starwood Capital and East West Partners teaming up on new Union Station neighborhood development

Global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group, through a controlled affiliate, and East West Partners, a Denver-based developer devoted to building, selling, managing and supporting high-quality real estate, announced today that it plans to develop a new 250-foot tall office building in Denver’s burgeoning Union Station neighborhood. DaVita Healthcare Partners, the leading provider of kidney care services, will serve as the property’s anchor tenant.

One of the last buildings to be completed in the Union Station area, the $190 million project — called 16 Chestnut — is essentially two buildings in one, as it fronts both 16^th and 17^th streets. In expanding its headquarters beyond its current location across the street, DaVita will occupy approximately 265,000 square feet of office space at 16 Chestnut, with its own entrance and lobby.

“DaVita believed in our vision for the Union Station neighborhood long before it came to fruition. We are honored that they are entrusting us in making a second home for their teammates,” said Chris Frampton, managing partner at East West Partners.

Groundbreaking for the building is scheduled for July, and DaVita is targeting a move-in date of August 2018. Remaining space available for lease will come to market in January, and the entire building is slated for completion in October 2018.

In addition to DaVita’s office space, four floor plates totaling 40,000 square feet apiece will be available for leasing at 16 Chestnut. The building will feature a separate lobby and elevator bank for the tenants in those floors.

16 Chestnut is targeting LEED Platinum certification upon completion for its environmentally friendly design and operations. The building will make extensive use of glass, allowing for striking views of the city and Rocky Mountains from each floor. The architect for the project is Gensler, and BuildMark will provide construction management services. A general contractor has not yet been named.

16 Chestnut also provides transit access, as it will be located adjacent to the south bound light rail and two blocks from the forthcoming north bound light rail to Denver International Airport. The 16^th Street Mall shuttles will run right through the building.

“We are excited about the opportunity to continue to invest in Denver and reaffirm our commitment to East West Partners’ vision for the Union Station neighborhood,” said Dan Schwaegler, senior vice president in the Asset Management Group at Starwood Capital Group. “This neighborhood has become the destination of choice for Fortune 500 companies in Denver, and our third building in the area will only contribute to this trend.”

East West Partners and Starwood Capital Group have already teamed up to develop two other buildings in the area. One Union Station, situated adjacent to the recently renovated historic Union Station, was sold in 2014, establishing a new high-water mark for Denver office pricing on a per-square-foot basis at the time. The Triangle Building was recently completed, and will be home to tenants including Liberty Global and WeWork.