Colliers International Celebrates Opening of Columbia Office

It is usually the other way around – it is usually Colliers International that is leasing out commercial real estate to companies.

But for this one time, it was Colliers that was the client. The firm recently moved to a building in a Columbia Gateway office complex. A grand opening ceremony was held Jan. 28.

According to Tim Hearn, the company’s CEO of the Baltimore region, opening an office in Columbia was all about – what else? – location.

“A significant amount of our business moves up and down the I-95 corridor,” Hearn said. His office, he said, focuses on Howard County, Baltimore city, and Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s counties.

“The other piece of it is we’re a very diverse organization, ethnically, religiously and politically. Moving to Columbia makes all of that seem a little more significant. The population that wants to work in Howard County seems to appreciate that kind of atmosphere,” Hearn said.

Hearn’s office had previously been known as Hearn Burkley Commercial Real Estate Services. It leases out and manages millions of square feet of distribution centers, large office buildings and shopping centers.

Hearn Burkley changed its name after entering into a revenue sharing agreement with Colliers International, which has 15,000 workers in 480 offices in 61 countries, according to the company.

That business relationship began in December. The move to Columbia had actually come in November, but the holidays delayed any ceremony to celebrate the change in locations.

The new office has about 11,000 square feet of space. The former office, located about 10 miles north on the border of Halethorpe and Baltimore, was actually about 13,000 square feet.

There were 25 to 30 employees at the former location. Some opted not to move so as to stay closer to Baltimore County and are now working out of Lutherville and Middle River, according to Hearn.

The Columbia location, meanwhile, is expanding its number of staff. Two months ago it was at 27. Now it is at 33, and Hearn said he expects that number to reach 40 soon.