Irvine, Orange County, California, August 16, 2025
News Summary
CBRE has bolstered its Orange County presence with the appointment of Mark Damiani to its National Retail Partners team and the relocation of more than 400 employees to a new 52,749 sq. ft. Workplace360 office in The Boardwalk, Irvine. The move highlights hybrid-work design with collaborative rooms, enhanced video conferencing and regional artwork. Several other senior hires were announced across Parkview Financial, Buchalter, The Ardent Cos. and HLCI, while CBRE reported recent regional transactions including office sales in Orange and a Class A building trade in Irvine. The activity signals continued institutional interest and office repositioning in the market.
CBRE Opens Major Irvine Workplace360 Office; Multiple Local Hires and Transactions Reported
A national commercial real estate firm has moved into a new, technology-forward office in Irvine and reported several Orange County deals while adding a senior retail executive in the region. At the same time, four other regional real estate and finance firms announced senior hires that expand construction, lending and legal teams across the West and Midwest.
Top line: New office, a senior retail hire, and two large sales
The firm relocated its Orange County operations into a 52,749-square-foot suite at The Boardwalk in Irvine. The space stretches across the sixth floor of the development and is split between the north and south towers, joined by an outdoor bridge with seating and Wi‑Fi. The office is part of the firm’s Workplace360 program, an office model built around hybrid work with collaborative rooms, high-capacity video conferencing, and a free-address layout that removes assigned desks.
At the same time, the firm added Mark Damiani as an executive vice president on its National Retail Partners team in Orange County. Damiani will focus on institutional retail sales in the Western United States and brings nearly two decades of industry experience, having handled more than 150 transactions totaling over $30 billion during his career. He joins from a major investment banking firm and earlier served at a well-known capital markets brokerage that is now part of another national firm.
The firm also announced it brokered two notable Southern California office sales in recent months. One transaction was the $15.45 million sale of a 90,191-square-foot office building in Orange. A separate deal moved a 310,925-square-foot office tower in Irvine for $42 million; that asset had previously traded and carried a significant loan in its ownership history. Deal teams for both sales included multiple senior brokers from the local office.
Why the new Irvine office matters
The new suite acts as a regional showpiece for hybrid-era office design. It includes a variety of room types for focus work, small huddles, living-room-style collaboration and large presentations using a curved, cinematic screen system. The design draws on local landscapes and features artwork by regional artists. The relocation consolidates more than 400 local employees into the new space and places the firm near major freeways and the local airport corridor.
Other senior hires across the region
Several other companies announced leadership moves this week:
- Los Angeles-based alternative lender Parkview Financial hired Scott Denham as managing director and head of nationwide construction. Denham will oversee underwriting and risk assessment for construction loans at the firm. Parkview also appointed Abe Kohn as vice president of construction to manage projects in the Northeast out of the firm’s New York office.
- National law firm Buchalter added two shareholders to its Pacific Northwest real estate practice: a Portland-based attorney who handles development, traditional transactions and renewable energy projects, and a Seattle-based attorney who represents landlords and tenants in office, retail and distribution leasing and also handles specialty assets and regulatory matters.
- Atlanta-based investment firm The Ardent Cos. named Matt Snyder as managing director in Chicago to oversee debt sourcing and product development in the region. Snyder has more than 20 years working on CMBS and other real estate finance transactions and has helped close more than $50 billion in deals.
- Dallas-based Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments hired Matthew Sibley as vice president to source and complete investments in the Houston region, covering deal sourcing through zoning, due diligence and construction oversight. Sibley joins from a national industrial developer where he led development and investment tasks and previously worked as an asset analyst in multifamily capital.
Context on transactions and local market
The sales and hires underscore active capital flows and ongoing repositioning in Southern California office markets. The transactions reported ranged from local buyers acquiring mid-size office assets to institutional buyers taking larger towers, with some assets showing repositioning potential because of zoning overlays and redevelopment interest. Meanwhile, the new office move reflects a broader push by companies to create flexible in-office environments that support hybrid teams while showcasing technology and collaboration tools to clients and staff.
What to watch next
Expect more senior hires focused on debt, development and construction as firms react to a mixed capital market and continued interest in industrial, office repositioning and retail investment opportunities. The adoption of Workplace360-style office design will likely continue where firms seek to balance remote work with in-person collaboration and client-facing functions.
FAQ
What is Workplace360?
Workplace360 is an office design and operations model that emphasizes hybrid work through flexible seating, collaborative rooms, in-office technology and enhanced video conferencing to support both in-person and remote attendees.
How large is the new Irvine office?
The new suite occupies 52,749 square feet across the sixth floor split between two towers at The Boardwalk in Irvine.
Who is the new retail executive in Orange County?
The firm hired an executive vice president to focus on institutional retail sales in the Western U.S. The hire brings nearly 20 years of experience and a track record of more than 150 transactions totaling over $30 billion.
What recent property sales were reported?
A 90,191-square-foot office building in Orange sold for $15.45 million, and a 310,925-square-foot office tower in Irvine traded for $42 million. Both deals involved local and regional buyers and teams of senior brokers.
Which other firms announced hires?
Parkview Financial, Buchalter, The Ardent Cos., and Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments announced senior hires covering construction lending, legal real estate practice, debt sourcing, and regional investment sourcing.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| New office size | 52,749 square feet across split sixth-floor suite at The Boardwalk |
| New retail hire | Executive vice president focusing on institutional retail sales with nearly 20 years of experience and 150+ transactions |
| Recent sales reported | 90,191-sq.-ft. Orange office for $15.45M; 310,925-sq.-ft. Irvine tower for $42M |
| Other announced hires | Senior hires at Parkview Financial (construction lending), Buchalter (real estate law), The Ardent Cos. (debt sourcing), and HLCI (regional investments) |
| Office program | Workplace360: flexible work, free-address seating, enhanced video conferencing and collaborative rooms |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- CBRE: CBRE opens new tech-enabled office in The Boardwalk
- Wikipedia: CBRE Group
- CBRE: CBRE facilitates $15.45 million sale of office property in Orange, California
- Google Search: 725 West Town and Country Road Orange sale
- YieldPro: Eastside Costa Mesa
- Wikipedia: Costa Mesa, California
- Orange County Business Journal: CBRE moves into new digs in Irvine
- Google Search: CBRE Workplace360 Irvine The Boardwalk
- CommercialSearch: CBRE IM sells Orange County office asset for $42M
- Google News: 2600 Michelson Drive Irvine $42 million
