Law firm takes floor at new skyscraper in move within downtown

Downtown Denver’s newest skyscraper has landed a new tenant.

Reed Smith, a law firm with offices around the world, has leased the 28th floor at 1900 Lawrence, according to the building’s developer. The floor is 30,600 square feet.

It’s a move within downtown and a local expansion for Reed Smith, which has 19,000 square feet at 1400 Wewatta St., according to developer Riverside Investment & Development. The lease at 1900 Lawrence commences in July 2026.

Reed Smith has roots in Pennsylvania. The firm was founded in Pittsburgh in 1877 and merged with Philadelphia law firm Townsend Elliott & Munson, which dated to 1842, in the 1970s.

Chicago-based Riverside broke ground on 1900 Lawrence in April 2023, and the building was completed in June 2024.

The 30-story, 700,000-square-foot tower got a little more breathing room late last month, when Arkansas-based lender Bank OZK extended the $242 million loan that financed its construction for an additional 18 months. That loan, which had been set to mature this December, now matures in mid-2027.

“This lease is a big vote of confidence for our building,” Riverside Senior Vice President Greg Pierce said in a statement. “With capital in place and the property’s future secure, Reed Smith’s lease is a real turning point for the building and a sign of more success to come.”

The tower has plenty of room for more deals. It was just 7.2% leased when the loan extension was inked.

Reed Smith is the second law firm to commit to 1900 Lawrence. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has already moved into the building’s top floor.

Law firms, which are generally willing to spend on top-tier office space, have been responsible for many of downtown’s major leases in recent years. Six law firms have taken space at Block 162, downtown’s second-newest skyscraper. It was completed at 675 15th St. in 2021.

— Thomas Gounley, BusinessDen