Midtown East opened last year as the tallest building in the Westshore district of Tampa, Florida, serving as the office anchor of a 22‑acre mixed‑use development.
Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, both part of TECO Energy, moved their headquarters to the 18-story, 430,000-square-foot tower at 3600 Midtown Drive. TECO left downtown Tampa and took about two-thirds of Midtown East.
"Midtown East didn’t so much arrive in Tampa’s Westshore district as it stood up, cleared its throat, and announced itself as the adult in the room," wrote one of the judges, Quinn Eddins, a managing director at Greystar Real Estate Partners.
The new office building, a rarity for Tampa, is within the “live‑work‑play” Midtown Tampa, offering access to dining, shopping and other amenities that help companies attract and retain employees, analysts say.
Building features include a heat‑reflective roof, floor‑to‑ceiling glass, 360‑degree views, outdoor terraces and industry certifications for sustainability.
"That all of this was pulled off in a mixed-use setting, during a time when office development was widely declared 'over,' only makes Midtown East more impressive," Eddins wrote. "It didn’t just prove that offices still matter; it proved that if you build one thoughtfully enough, people will show up, unpack their laptops, and stay."
The size and significance of the development earned a CoStar Impact Award as judged by professionals in the market.
About the project: The Bromley Cos. and Highwoods Properties built the tower at the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Interstate 275. In addition to TECO, Midtown East tenants include global consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, financial services giant Deloitte and technology company TeamViewer.
What the judges said: "Midtown East being the new TECO headquarters location makes it a very impactful project from a regional economic standpoint, and the fact that it was done in a very soft market for new office developments makes it a true standout, maybe across the entire country," Colliers Executive Vice President Casey Babb said.
"Midtown East has created a truly vibrant work-live-play environment, while simultaneously attracting major employers to the area supporting job growth and business activity. Sustainable, modern design features showcase Tampa's livability and appeal," said Lisa Ross, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield.
"Despite headlines about the challenges in the office market, Midtown East demonstrates that there is a strong market for well-executed, Class-A institutional office product in Tampa," said Matt Mitchell, senior managing director of Berkadia Real Estate Advisors.
They made it happen: Bromley Cos. officials, including Nicholas Haines, CEO, Peter Tong, senior vice president, and Tiffany Woods, director of development, played a major role. At Highwoods Properties, Lauren Coup, senior vice president and Tampa market leader, and Brad Heeter, senior leasing representative, led the effort.