Newmark Facilitates $150.7 Million Sale of Trophy Creative Campus in Playa Vista, California

Rhea-AI Summary

Newmark (NMRK) has facilitated the sale of i|o at Playa Vista, a 306,809 square-foot creative workplace campus in Playa Vista, California, for $150.7 million. The transaction, representing the highest sale price in Los Angeles this year, involved Clarion Partners as the seller and Barings as the buyer. The two-building mixed-use campus has demonstrated strong performance with 78,000 square feet of new leasing in the past 24 months and maintained over 90% occupancy since its 2016 Gensler redesign. The property, originally delivered in 2010, features collaborative indoor/outdoor workspaces, exterior stairways, amenitized decks, and a landscaped courtyard. Its strategic location offers access to major freeways, LAX, and various amenities. The strong institutional investor interest and competitive bid process signal a recovery in the capital markets for quality office assets.

Positive

• Highest sale price in Los Angeles year-to-date at $150.7 million
• Strong leasing performance with 78,000 square feet of new leases in past 24 months at market-leading rates
• Maintained over 90% average occupancy since 2016 redesign
• Strong institutional investor interest indicating market recovery for quality office assets

Negative

• Significant near-term lease expirations creating uncertainty
• Property faces general office sector challenges in post-pandemic environment

Insights

Commercial Real Estate Analyst

Newmark's facilitation of LA's largest 2025 sale demonstrates market strength and positions the company as a leader in trophy asset transactions.

Newmark's facilitation of the $150.7 million sale of i|o at Playa Vista represents a significant achievement for the company, marking the highest sale price in Los Angeles this year. This transaction showcases Newmark's ability to execute high-profile deals in a challenging office market environment.

The most revealing aspect of this deal is the strong institutional investor interest despite office sector concerns. The competitive bidding process for this trophy asset indicates capital markets are selectively returning to quality office properties. Particularly noteworthy is investors' willingness to accept the property's leasing uncertainty with "significant near-term expirations" – a dramatic shift from recent risk-averse market behavior.

The property's performance metrics reinforce its premium positioning: 90%+ occupancy since its 2016 redesign and 78,000 square feet of new leasing at "market-leading rates" over the past two years. This demonstrates the flight-to-quality trend dominating the office market recovery, where premium properties with exceptional amenities continue performing while generic office space struggles.

For Newmark, this transaction strengthens its market position in facilitating institutional-grade deals and highlights its comprehensive service capabilities, with both capital markets and debt & structured finance teams collaborating on the deal. This integrated approach allows Newmark to provide enhanced value to clients in complex transactions involving high-caliber institutional parties like Clarion Partners and Barings.

Transaction Marks Highest Sale Price in Los Angeles Year-to-Date¹

LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) ("Newmark" or "the Company"), a leading commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors, global corporations, and other owners and occupiers, announces the Company has facilitated the $150.7 million sale of i|o at Playa Vista, a 306,809 square-foot creative workplace campus in Playa Vista, California. 

Newmark Co-Head of U.S. Capital Markets Kevin Shannon, Vice Chairmen Ken White, Rob Hannan, Laura Stumm and Michael Moll represented the seller, Clarion Partners. Newmark Co-President, Global Debt & Structured Finance Jonathan Firestone, Vice Chairman Blake Thompson and Director Henry Cassiday provided support on debt strategy and financing considerations throughout the transaction process. The buyer was Barings.

"The response from institutional investors for i|o at Playa Vista was exceptionally strong — a clear sign that institutional capital is re-engaging in the office sector," said Shannon. "The managed bid process was highly competitive which speaks to a broader sense of recovery in the capital markets for quality office product."

"Buyers embraced i|o's rollover profile, which included significant near-term expirations," added Stumm. "The willingness of institutional investors to take on leasing uncertainty is a clear vote of confidence in both the Playa Vista submarket and the broader office recovery. The market continues to reward high-quality assets, and this sale reinforces that trend."

The two-building, mixed-use i|o campus has attracted 78,000 square feet of new leasing over the past 24 months at market-leading rates, demonstrating its tenant appeal in a flight-to-quality leasing environment. The property, delivered in 2010 and completely redesigned by Gensler in 2016, has maintained an average occupancy level of over 90% since it was redesigned.

The campus provides a compelling, collaborative indoor/outdoor workplace wrapped in a distinct architectural language that includes exterior stairways, large amenitized decks and abundant space amidst a serene interior landscaped courtyard. The property benefits from its central location that offers immediate access to the I-405 and Marina (SR 90) Freeways and the main arterials of the Pacific Coast Highway, La Cienega and LAX, as well as an abundance of amenities and the Westside's desirable executive housing.

Trophy buildings in prime locations like Playa Vista are outperforming other asset classes, fueled by strong demand for high-end design and amenities that attract companies eager to bring workers back to the office, according to Newmark Research.

About Newmark
Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), together with its subsidiaries ("Newmark"), is a world leader in commercial real estate, seamlessly powering every phase of the property life cycle. Newmark's comprehensive suite of services and products is uniquely tailored to each client, from owners to occupiers, investors to founders, and startups to blue-chip companies. Combining the platform's global reach with market intelligence in both established and emerging property markets, Newmark provides superior service to clients across the industry spectrum. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2025, Newmark generated revenues of over $2.8 billion. As of March 31, 2025, Newmark and its business partners together operated from 165 offices with approximately 8,100 professionals across four continents. To learn more, visit nmrk.com or follow @newmark.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about Newmark
Statements in this document regarding Newmark that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the Company's business, results, financial position, liquidity, and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, Newmark undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Newmark's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

¹ According to Newmark Research

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SOURCE Newmark Group, Inc.

FAQ

What was the sale price of i|o at Playa Vista campus facilitated by Newmark (NMRK)?

The i|o at Playa Vista campus was sold for $150.7 million, marking the highest sale price in Los Angeles year-to-date.

What is the size and occupancy rate of the i|o at Playa Vista property?

The property is a 306,809 square-foot creative workplace campus that has maintained over 90% average occupancy since its 2016 redesign.

Who were the buyers and sellers in the Playa Vista campus transaction?

Clarion Partners was the seller and Barings was the buyer, with Newmark facilitating the transaction.

How has the i|o at Playa Vista property performed in recent leasing activity?

The property has attracted 78,000 square feet of new leasing over the past 24 months at market-leading rates.

What are the key features of the i|o at Playa Vista campus?

The campus features collaborative indoor/outdoor workspaces, exterior stairways, large amenitized decks, a landscaped courtyard, and strategic location with access to major freeways and amenities.