San Diego has added a noteworthy feather to its architectural cap as Roseling Nakamura Terada Architects, Inc. (RNT) confirms a hefty lease in Downtown's eco-friendly Makers Quarter. RNT, a local architecture firm, will be moving its headquarters to the fifth floor of Block D, taking up an ample 10,201 square feet of the building's sixty thousand total. According to Connect CRE, this structure isn't just any office building, it's San Diego's first to boast Net Zero Energy and LEED Platinum certification, setting a green standard for commercial real estate in the area.

Block D, owned by L2HP, LLC and designed by BNIM Architects, is perched at the heart of the East Village's creative hub, 845 15th St. The move, touted as a major upgrade for RNT, sees the firm shifting from its previous spot about a mile away in the Gaslamp Quarter. "We’re thrilled to welcome RNT to Block D, which is a uniquely designed and artistic property in nature," Derek Hulse, Executive Director at Cushman & Wakefield, told The Registry SoCal, indicating a perfect match between the tenant and the creative ethos of the building.

The relocation is managed through the real estate expertise of Cushman & Wakefield, with Derek Hulse and Morgan Reno representing the landlord side. Hughes Marino's Star Hughes-Gorup represented RNT, with all parties reportedly satisfied with the new arrangements. "We’re glad that our efforts to create a sustainable project consisting of elements such as improved air quality, water efficiency, cross breeze/air flow, solar panels, and natural light were valued by RNT," Sumeet Parekh, Managing Partner of HP Investors and part of L2HP, LLC, added in a statement obtained by The Registry SoCal.

Block D isn't just a win for environmental bragging rights. It's a functional art piece and a beacon for the startup and artistic communities. The building encourages engagement with the surrounding neighborhood through retail and restaurant spaces, public areas with unique open spaces, collaborative balcony spaces, and natural light—features meant to spur innovation and collaboration. Makers Quarter continues to develop, fostered by the joint efforts of developers like L2HP, who have been in partnerships for more than seven years, birthing projects such as Broadstone Makers Quarter and Punch Bowl Social, alongside several others in the East Village.