Occupational Therapists Moving to North Bethesda

6116 Executive Blvd. | Submitted

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is moving its national headquarters out of downtown Bethesda by the end of the year.

AOTA will be moving to White Flint, to 6116 Executive Blvd., North Bethesda.

The project is currently in the interior design phase.

The move is about 5 miles north of its current location and was introduced to AOTA’s 66,000 members this week.

The new space will enable its more than 65 staff to be situated on one floor, with more spaces for cross-functional collaboration and teaming. The building is very close to where AOTA first chose a D.C. area location in 1972.

The organization will use about 20,000 square feet. The building, according to state tax records has more than 210,000 square feet and was built in 1989.

Dan Reed, whose “Just Up the Pike” blog covers planning and development, wrote a post in January listing 6116 Executive Blvd. as one of 13 reasons Montgomery County needs to cut its budget this year. The post listed empty office buildings and shopping centers that don’t add to the county’s tax base.

“This building [has been] an emblem of the challenges we face,” Reed said. People want to take transit to their jobs, lunch within walking distances and services near their work site, he said. The restaurants of Pike and Rose are less than a mile away.

“I’m glad they’re finally getting tenants,” Reed said.

The building, owned by an affiliate of Goodstone LLC, was selected by an executive team at AOTA and occupational therapy practitioners based on the quality of space, quality of public areas, access to public transportation and major thoroughfares in the region, access to major hotels and food services, and amenities.

AOTA was represented by Larry Walker and Kimberly Vogel with the Walker Group; Bernie McCarthy and Danny Sullivan with JLL represented 6116 Executive Blvd.

In the coming months AOTA and experts from design firm Davis Carter Scott LTD, which has designed spaces for hundreds of nonprofit and corporate clients including the National Industries for the Blind, will collaborate with occupational therapy practitioners to create a new space reflecting the highest standards of accessibility and sensitivity to design considerations for a diversified workforce.

Occupational therapy practitioners help people across the lifespan to be as independent as possible, despite illness, injury or mental disability. Occupational therapy is the only profession that addresses the things clients want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).

Founded in 1917, AOTA represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 213,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, visit www.aota.org.

Goodstone LLC is a commercial real estate investment management firm headquartered in Washington, DC. The group sources, acquires, and manages commercial office building investment opportunities on behalf of its principals, private clients, and financial institutions. Goodstone or its affiliates presently own interests in eight commercial office buildings located in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area and in Texas valued at $410 million. For more information, visit www.goodstonellc.com.

For more information on 6116 Executive Blvd., visit www.6116exec.com.

About Staff Writer

View all posts by Staff Writer