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.
Orange County real estate hub expands: CBRE opens large Irvine office, adds retail leader; several firms announce senior hires
A wave of senior appointments and property deals reshaped parts of the Southern California commercial real estate scene and several national firms this spring. The biggest immediate development is a newly opened 52,749-square-foot CBRE office in Irvine under the firm’s Workplace360 program, paired with the hire of a seasoned retail investment broker to bolster institutional sales work in Orange County. Several other firms also announced additions to their development, legal and investment teams in multiple U.S. regions.
Top-line moves and transactions
CBRE relocated into a large, split-floor office at The Boardwalk in Irvine that hosts more than 400 employees locally and showcases the company’s Workplace360 layout designed for hybrid work. On the transaction front, CBRE teams handled at least two notable Southern California deals: a $15.45 million sale of a 90,191-square-foot office asset in Orange and a $42 million sale of a 310,925-square-foot, Class A office tower in Irvine. These moves come as the firm continues to report nationwide retail investment reach and heavy transactional volume.
CBRE leadership and platform expansion
Mark Damiani joined CBRE’s National Retail Partners group as an executive vice president based in Irvine. He will focus on institutional retail property sales. Damiani brings close to 20 years of industry experience, with prior roles at Eastdil Secured and HFF, and a track record that includes more than 150 transactions totaling over $30 billion, primarily on behalf of institutional and private clients in the Western United States. His arrival adds to a team that has handled more than $57 billion in investment sales across roughly 2,400 transactions and about 336 million square feet.
New Irvine workplace features and design
The new Irvine suite occupies nearly an entire sixth-floor span split between two towers and connected by an outdoor bridge. The space highlights collaborative and individual work settings with multiple room types, a large media display, advanced videoconference capabilities, and a free-address seating model that removes assigned desks to support flexible use. The design integrates local landscape motifs and local artist work and includes high-tech conference spaces intended for cinematic presentations and hybrid meeting collaboration.
Regional hires and firm growth
Several other companies announced senior hires aimed at strengthening development, financing and legal practices:
- Parkview Financial, a Los Angeles–based alternative investment firm, named Scott Denham as managing director and head of nationwide construction. Denham will lead underwriting and risk oversight for construction loans and monitor loan performance. Parkview also added Abe Kohn as vice president of construction to oversee Northeast projects from the firm’s New York office.
- National business law firm Buchalter added two shareholders to its Pacific Northwest practice: Michelle Da Rosa in Portland and Ian Taylor in Seattle. Both joined the firm’s real estate group to serve clients on development, renewable energy, leasing, and regulatory matters.
- Atlanta-based real estate investor The Ardent Cos. appointed Matt Snyder as managing director in Chicago to lead debt sourcing and product work in that region. Snyder brings more than two decades of debt-focused experience and a long history in CMBS and real estate finance.
- Dallas-based Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments hired Matthew Sibley as a vice president to source and complete investments in the Houston area, overseeing tasks from site sourcing and negotiation to zoning, design and construction oversight.
Where the market goes from here
The combination of workplace reinvestment, senior hires focused on debt and construction, and continued asset trades suggests sustained activity across investment and development channels. Office sales, repositioning plays and institutional retail transactions remain part of deal flow while firms adapt local offices and teams to hybrid work and larger regional coverage.
FAQ
What did CBRE open in Irvine?
CBRE opened a 52,749-square-foot Workplace360 office at The Boardwalk in Irvine. The space spans two towers, is joined by an outdoor bridge, and is designed for hybrid work with enhanced video capabilities and a free-address layout.
Who joined CBRE’s retail team?
Mark Damiani joined CBRE’s National Retail Partners as an executive vice president in Orange County to focus on institutional retail sales. He has nearly two decades of experience and has led more than 150 transactions valued at over $30 billion.
Which recent property sales were announced?
Two highlighted transactions include the sale of a 90,191-square-foot office property in Orange for $15.45 million and the sale of a 310,925-square-foot Class A office tower in Irvine for $42 million.
Which firms added senior staff and where?
– Parkview Financial hired senior construction leaders in Los Angeles and New York.
– Buchalter added shareholders in Portland and Seattle.
– The Ardent Cos. named a managing director in Chicago.
– Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments added a Houston-focused vice president based in Dallas.
How do these hires affect regional markets?
The hires strengthen underwriting, construction oversight, legal and debt origination capabilities in key markets, which can speed project financing, support larger transactions, and help firms deploy capital or manage development risk more effectively.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Key facts | Location | Immediate effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBRE Workplace360 office | 52,749 sq. ft., split across towers, free-address, hybrid tech | Irvine, The Boardwalk | Enhanced local workplace model, hosts 400+ staff |
| Senior hire | Mark Damiani, EVP — institutional retail sales, ~150 transactions, $30B+ | Irvine / Orange County | Strengthens institutional retail sales capability |
| Major transactions | $15.45M sale (90,191 sq. ft.); $42M sale (310,925 sq. ft.) | Orange; Irvine | Continues active office market trading and repositioning |
| Other hires | Construction, legal and debt leaders at Parkview, Buchalter, Ardent, HLCI | Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Houston | Bolsters underwriting, development oversight and financing teams |
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
Author: Construction TX News
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