Akridge and National Real Estate Development announced the first fitness and office additions joining The Stacks: Launch Workplaces, a coworking and flexible office operator, and a new community gym concept by Balance Gym and FLEX. Akridge is a comprehensive real estate services company and a prominent investor and developer in the Washington metropolitan region and North Carolina. National Development, a subsidiary of investment manager and project partner National Real Estate Advisors (“National”), is a real estate development firm focused on the development of innovative projects throughout the country. This fitness concept at The Stacks will be Buzzard Point’s first community gym, offering a much-needed full-service fitness and personal training destination, while Launch Workplaces will provide modern, flexible office space and on-demand meeting rooms for entrepreneurs, remote workers and teams ranging from 2 to 20+ people. Jointly owned by Akridge, Bridge Investment Group (“Bridge”), Blue Coast Capital (“BCC”), and institutional funds managed by National, The Stacks’ first phase will deliver in early 2025 and is poised to create a connected, dynamic community and enriching retail experience in D.C.’s growing Buzzard Point neighborhood.
“The addition of the first community gym in Buzzard Point and the locally-based flex office operator, Launch Workplaces, marks a significant milestone for The Stacks,” said Adam Gooch, Director of Development and Senior Vice President for Akridge. “These first two retailers set the tone for the vibrant community we’re building in Buzzard Point, where wellness, flexibility and convenience will be at the forefront of the neighborhood experience. We’re excited to see these spaces become key parts of The Stacks’ dynamic and growing retail landscape.”
“The Stacks is crafted to integrate the best elements of urban living, and the introduction of Launch Workplaces and the new gym concept by Balance and FLEX contributes to the dynamic vision that we have for the development of this community,” said Katie Hartley, Director of Development at National Real Estate Development. “By offering essential amenities like a community-focused gym and a flexible coworking environment, we’re fostering an environment where residents and businesses alike can thrive and connect meaningfully. We’re excited to welcome more retailers as The Stacks continues to evolve.”
The teams behind Balance Gym and FLEX are set to open a brand new concept location in Washington, D.C., the first public fitness center in the growing Buzzard Point neighborhood. Spanning 10,000 square feet, the gym will offer cutting-edge amenities such as a cold plunge, sauna and outdoor workout space. Residents of The Stacks’ apartment buildings—The Byron, Everly and Colette—will receive complimentary basic memberships, providing them easy access to a premier fitness experience. Known for its community-driven approach, the concept will provide an array of fitness options, including strength training and cardio equipment, group classes and personal training. This marks an exciting milestone as the first community gym in Buzzard Point, enhancing the neighborhood’s wellness offerings. The fitness concept is slated to open in January 2025.
“We’re thrilled to bring our community-focused fitness concept to The Stacks, offering a comprehensive wellness experience for Buzzard Point. This new location will merge the best of Balance Gym and FLEX, emphasizing high-performance training and holistic recovery,” said Mark Crick, Founder of Balance Gym. “With unique amenities like outdoor workout spaces, cold plunge pools, and saunas, we aim to create a fitness destination that caters to all levels and becomes an integral part of this vibrant neighborhood.”
“FLEX is a hub for fitness professionals, offering top-tier coaching, group training opportunities and a space where local entrepreneurs can launch and grow their fitness businesses,” said Matt Moosavian, Founder of FLEX. “Since opening two years ago, we’ve experienced tremendous success, with eight group training companies and 16 personal training brands already thriving. We look forward to opening our new facility at The Stacks and introducing a diverse lineup of experienced fitness professionals to this vibrant community.”
Launch Workplaces, a leading provider of flexible office solutions, is bringing an 11,000-square-foot modern and professional coworking space to The Stacks. Designed for entrepreneurs, remote workers and small businesses, the space will offer private offices, meeting rooms and collaborative areas to meet the growing demand for flexible work environments in D.C. Opening on the second floor of Colette, Launch Workplaces will provide an all-inclusive, affordable workspace for individuals and teams of all sizes. In addition to coworking areas, private offices and meeting rooms, the space will offer virtual office services such as mail and address handling. Launch Workplaces is slated to open in mid-2025.
“The work-from-anywhere revolution continues to expand as we see adoption continuing into every sector,” said Mike Kriel, CEO at Launch Workplaces. “Akridge is a world-class developer, and when they approached us about operating a coworking space for their new project at Buzzard Point, we jumped at the opportunity. Rarely do you see such a large developer lead through innovation, and this project is a perfect example of that. We are proud to be a part of The Stacks at Buzzard Point and look forward to opening our doors next year.”
The Stacks’ first phase will be home to approximately 1 million square feet of mixed-use space, including three residential offerings: Everly, Colette and The Byron, offering over 1,100 apartment units, 106 of which are co-living units. Anchored by The Corso, a pedestrian-only street at the heart of the neighborhood, The Stacks seamlessly integrates retail, public plazas, community spaces and residences to create a lively environment where residents and visitors can live, dine, work, explore and connect. The first phase will also include a 15,000-square-foot public park and 300,000 square feet of below-grade parking.
Drawing inspiration from the District’s most iconic neighborhoods, The Stacks will emerge as a vibrant, walkable waterfront destination, completing the Southwest Waterfront and seamlessly linking The Wharf and The Yards. With sweeping views of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers, National Airport and Virginia, it offers a distinctive connection between D.C.’s most exciting riverfront areas.
For more information on The Stacks, please visit www.thestacks.com.
ABOUT AKRIDGE
Akridge is a comprehensive real estate services company and a prominent investor and developer in the Washington metropolitan region and North Carolina. It provides acquisitions, design and construction management, development, finance and asset management, leasing, and property management services. For over 50 years, the company has acquired, developed, or entitled more than 29 million square feet of office, industrial flex, multifamily, retail, and entertainment space. Akridge has another 7.6 million square feet in its active pipeline, currently manages approximately 4.0 million square feet, and has a portfolio with an estimated value of over $2.8 billion. Notable projects include the 1-million-square-foot Gallery Place, the internationally recognized Homer Building, the 240,000-square-foot 555 Mangum Street, and the 3-million-square-foot Burnham Place air rights development project at Union Station. For more information, please visit www.akridge.com.
ABOUT NATIONAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
National Real Estate Development, LLC (National Development), is a real estate development firm focused on developing innovative, high-quality projects throughout the country. Since its inception in 2013, National Development’s direct development projects that are completed or under construction have totaled nearly 6.3 million square feet in major markets such as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco. National Development specializes in multi-faceted projects across the country. With a proven track record of creating dynamic, vibrant spaces designed to foster connections, National Development’s talented professionals actively seek out unique, challenging, and forward-thinking ventures. From land acquisition to delivering the final project, the team possesses a diverse skill set and extensive expertise, which we believe ensures the highest standards in quality and design. National Development has expertise developing across all major real estate asset classes, including mixed-use, apartments, traditional and medical office, and retail. Notable projects include East Market in Philadelphia, The Stacks in Washington, D.C., and The Bloc in Los Angeles. National Development is the wholly owned, full-service development subsidiary of National Real Estate Advisors, LLC. To learn more, visit www.natrealestatedevelopment.
ABOUT NATIONAL REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
National Real Estate Advisors, LLC (“National”) is an investment manager developing, operating, and managing commercial real estate projects across the United States. National’s mission is to create lasting value through projects that produce solid, long-term returns for our clients while improving the communities in which we invest and develop. Since 2000, National’s investment team has been constructing investment portfolios of diverse property assets — primarily multifamily, data centers, office, healthcare, and medical buildings. National manages separate accounts and multiple commingled investment vehicles, including a data center fund. National seeks to create value for investors by adhering to a rigorous investment process and development principles guided by profits, integrity, community, and collaboration. National is an independently operated subsidiary of the National Electrical Benefit Fund (“NEBF”), a pension trust with assets that are managed by National on a discretionary basis. For more information, please visit www.natadvisors.com.
ABOUT BLUE COAST CAPITAL
Blue Coast Capital, headquartered in London, England with offices in Europe and the United States, owns, operates, and manages a diverse portfolio of real estate, private equity, hotels & leisure, and consumer-driven businesses. Working directly and with partners, it maintains a diverse spread of assets that allow it to balance opportunities and exposures in geography, property type and risk across two separate portfolios – income and opportunistic. With a track-record spanning 50 years, including 35 years in the United States, the company remains a privately owned business with the financial strength to make decisions based on unique opportunities as well as long term trends. For more information, please visit www.bccapusa.com and www.bccap.com.
ABOUT BRIDGE
Bridge is a leading, vertically integrated real estate investment manager, diversified across specialized asset classes, with approximately $38.8 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2021. Bridge combines its nationwide operating platform with dedicated teams of investment professionals focused on select U.S. real estate verticals: residential rental, office, development, logistics properties, net lease and real estate-backed credit.
ABOUT LAUNCH WORKPLACES
Launch Workplaces is an independently owned and operated flexible office, coworking, and meeting room provider with locations in DC, Maryland, and Ohio. The company was founded with the mission of creating inspiring spaces where solo professionals, satellite teams, growing businesses, and established enterprises could thrive. Launch memberships are all-inclusive, with features like printing, scanning, conference rooms, refreshments, and more. A perfect blend of convenience, flexibility, and experience that members appreciate and enjoy. Learn more at launchworkplaces.com.
