Photo: Columbia Property Trust

Jan. 23, 2020
By Walt Williams

The American Trucking Associations will move from its current headquarters in Arlington, Va., to Washington, D.C.'s first offices constructed primarily out of mass timber in 2022.

Property owner Columbia Property Trust announced Wednesday that it would soon begin construction of an 105,000 square-foot expansion atop an existing 286,000-square-foot office building at 80 M St. SE, located in the Capital River District. ATA has signed a 16-year lease to occupy 60,000 square feet of the new space, according to a statement by the company.

The new offices will be built mainly out of mass timber, which refers to making large structural elements such as posts and beams out of layers of wood that have been glued or nailed together. It is often cited as a lighter and more environmentally friendly construction material than steel and concrete, although there are questions about that claim. The offices will also feature 16-foot ceiling heights and 12-foot windows, polished concrete floors, and nearly 4,000 feet of outdoor space.

ATA's headquarters is currently located at 950 North Globe Road in Arlington, although it also has an office near Capitol Hill. In a statement, ATA CEO Chris Spears cited the new headquarters' location within the District as a major reason for the move.

"For 87 years, ATA has been the leading voice of the trucking industry," he said. "Our decision to return ATA's headquarters to our nation's capital will further amplify that voice and steer decisions that impact trucking. This added presence to our existing Capitol Hill office and will take ATA and its agenda to the next level."

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