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.
Major hires and a new Orange County hub reshape local commercial real estate scene
In a busy stretch for Southern California real estate, several firms announced senior hires while one national brokerage opened a large new office in Irvine and reported multiple local transactions. The biggest personnel move names a veteran retail dealmaker joining a national team, and the office opening marks a notable upgrade in workplace design and technology in Orange County.
Top-line moves: retail specialist joins CBRE
Mark Damiani has joined CBRE’s National Retail Partners team in Orange County as an executive vice president based in Irvine. He will focus on institutional sales of retail properties. Damiani brings nearly two decades of industry experience, including recent work as a managing director and prior roles at other major investment brokerage firms. His track record includes handling more than 150 transactions with a combined value above $30 billion, mainly for institutional and private clients across the Western United States. CBRE’s National Retail Partners group reports a long history of large investment sales, with hundreds of billions in activity and millions of square feet transacted to date.
CBRE opens new Irvine Workplace360 office
CBRE relocated its Orange County operations into a new Workplace360 office at The Boardwalk in Irvine. The new space totals about 52,749 square feet, split between the north and south towers on roughly the sixth floor and connected by an outdoor bridge with seating and Wi‑Fi. The relocation brings together more than 400 local employees and includes a mix of collaborative rooms, focus spaces, a large media display, and advanced video conferencing tools aimed at hybrid work. The Boardwalk building features amenities such as outdoor workspaces, fitness facilities, food options and EV charging, and a developer team is also moving into a portion of the suite.
Recent Orange County transactions reported
CBRE teams handled at least two notable sales in the region. One was a $15.45 million sale of a 90,191‑square‑foot office property at 725 West Town and Country Road in Orange, sold to a local buyer. The property attracted interest for investment, owner‑user use, or potential residential redevelopment due to a specific zoning overlay and offers convenient access to multiple freeways and the nearby airport.
Separately, an investment manager sold a 310,925‑square‑foot, Class A office tower at 2600 Michelson Drive in Irvine for $42 million. The buyer was a Southern California trust. The mid‑market price follows an earlier higher trade and highlights changing valuations for office assets over recent years. The building sits on a multi‑acre site in the Irvine business district, includes a large parking structure, has undergone lobby and amenity upgrades, and holds LEED Gold certification.
Other notable hires across the region
Several other firms added senior staff to bolster development, finance and legal teams:
- Parkview Financial, an LA‑based alternative investment firm, named Scott Denham as managing director and head of nationwide construction. Denham will underwrite and monitor construction loans. Parkview also added Abe Kohn as vice president of construction based in New York, who will oversee projects in the Northeast and report to Denham.
- National business law firm Buchalter promoted two shareholders in the Pacific Northwest. Michelle Da Rosa joins from the Portland office and will work on traditional real estate deals, development and renewable energy projects. Ian Taylor is based in Seattle and will represent landlords and tenants in sales and leasing across office, retail and distribution properties, while also handling specialized matters such as cell towers and aviation property issues.
- The Ardent Cos., an Atlanta‑based investment firm with a presence in many states, added Matt Snyder as managing director in Chicago to lead debt sourcing and product development in that region. Snyder brings more than 20 years of debt and capital markets experience.
- Dallas‑based Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments hired Matthew Sibley as a vice president to source and close investments in the Houston area, overseeing sourcing, negotiation, due diligence, zoning and construction workstreams.
Why this matters
These hires and the large new office footprint point to continued activity in investment, debt and development work across Southern California and other U.S. regions. The mix of institutional sales expertise, construction finance leadership and legal additions suggests firms are positioning for a range of opportunities, from refinancing and construction lending to repositioning or redevelopment of existing assets. At the same time, the office move reflects ongoing workplace redesign trends focused on hybrid collaboration and increased virtual meeting capabilities.
What to watch next
Market watchers will likely monitor how recent sales prices compare with past trades, how construction loan underwriting standards evolve under new leadership, and how hybrid office designs affect local occupancy and leasing patterns. Any follow‑up announcements about acquisitions, new development starts, or major lease deals from these teams will help clarify near‑term momentum.
FAQ
Who joined CBRE’s retail team in Orange County?
Mark Damiani joined CBRE’s National Retail Partners team as an executive vice president based in Irvine, focusing on institutional retail property sales.
What are the main features of CBRE’s new Irvine office?
The new CBRE Irvine office is about 52,749 square feet spread across two towers at The Boardwalk. It includes collaborative rooms, a large media display, advanced video conferencing, a free‑address seating model, and an outdoor bridge connecting the towers.
What recent local property sales were reported?
Two transactions highlighted were a $15.45 million sale of a 90,191‑sq. ft. office building in Orange and the $42 million sale of a 310,925‑sq. ft. Class A office tower in Irvine.
Which firms announced senior hires besides CBRE?
Parkview Financial, Buchalter, The Ardent Cos., and Holt Lunsford Commercial Investments all announced senior hires in development, construction finance, legal and regional investment roles.
Key features at a glance
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Senior hires | Mark Damiani at CBRE; Scott Denham and Abe Kohn at Parkview; Michelle Da Rosa and Ian Taylor at Buchalter; Matt Snyder at Ardent; Matthew Sibley at HLCI |
| New office | CBRE Workplace360 at The Boardwalk in Irvine; ~52,749 sq. ft.; split between two towers; outdoor bridge; hybrid work tech |
| Recent transactions | $15.45M sale of 725 West Town and Country Road (Orange); $42M sale of 2600 Michelson Drive (Irvine) |
| Core themes | Institutional sales activity, construction and loan underwriting hires, office repositioning and hybrid workplace design |
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 NY News
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