Construction Set to Begin to Renovate Former Rouse Building for Whole Foods

On Thursday afternoon, there were people at the former Rouse Company headquarters on the Columbia lakefront wheeling out furniture and trash cans.

Last week, a Howard Hughes spokesperson said the development company had completely moved their offices out of the building and into the top floor of the Teachers Building, which is where Clyde's is located.

With the employees out, the Frank Gehry designed building will begin its transformation from office space into the new home of a Whole Foods grocery store and Columbia Association gym.

The construction process will remove the third floor of the four-story building to make way for the grocery store, according to site development plans submitted to the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning. CA's new gym will be located on the first floor.

In addition, 97 parking spaces will be removed from the upper and lower level parking lots at the building to allow for increased stormwater management landscaping features, according to the plans.

Whole Foods intends to open in the summer or fall of 2014, according to a company statement.

Howard Hughes vice president John DeWolf said the development company plans to spend upwards of $20 million to renovate the building, during a press conference in July.

At the time, he said Howard Hughes will follow strict preservation guidelines to maintain the iconic white exterior as the building is renovated. He also said the building may be renamed the James W. Rouse building.

Howard Hughes would not allow Patch to enter the building before construction began to take photographs of the interior, citing current disrepair, but did provide Patch with some photographs, which are attached above.

In addition, local blogger Dennis Lane entered the building last week and took some photographs.

The building officially opened in 1974. Over 600 employees of the Rouse Company worked there at its peak, according to business records held at the Columbia Archives. The building was acquired by General Growth Properties in 2004, when it bought the Rouse Company. Then in 2010, the building became Howard Hughes' property after the company was spun-off from GGP.

Related Articles

• Nearly 100 Parking Spots To Be Removed at Lakefront Rouse Building
• Check Out Clyde's Under Construction
• Mall Expansion Construction Underway
• Whole Foods Entry into Downtown a 'Home Run'
• Renowned Architect Frank Gehry Visits Columbia

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