Columbia Association Moving from Lakefront

In the next year, the Columbia Association (CA) will relocate so it can offer all its services in one building, according to an announcement from the organization.

Currently, CA operations are spread out among three locations—CA’s administrative offices are on Wincopin Circle; the Columbia Archives is in a separate building on Wincopin Circle; and the organization’s IT offices are on Sterrett Place, the announcement said.

At the end of August 2015, CA will move to Hillside Center, off Stevens Forest Road, near Broken Land Parkway and Route 29, according to the announcement. The property is owned and managed by First Potomac Realty Trust.

At the Hillside building, the first floor will house a member service center, the Columbia Archives, a meeting space and upgraded lobby with restrooms, according to CA.

Here’s more from the CA announcement:

The building is in a safe and convenient location. It is accessible from major roadways and is in close proximity to bike paths and village centers, and it will offer plentiful surface parking for employees and visitors.

CA has spent considerable time evaluating locations, including several in the Downtown Columbia area. The Hillside Center office offers a value-oriented alternative for CA and comes with ownership potential. This decision demonstrates CA’s commitment to being a careful steward of its resources. CA will continue to be a key stakeholder in downtown Columbia through its ownership and management of the Downtown Columbia Lakefront, operations of the new Haven on the Lake mind body wellness retreat, and in meetings and discussions with businesses and organizations that are involved in the Downtown Columbia Partnership.

Columbia Association’s first office opened in 1966 at ’The Bungalow’ in Wilde Lake, later moving to Century Plaza off Governor Warfield Parkway and then in 1975 switching to the Banneker Building on Banneker Road, where CA’s open space division also was located. In 1983, CA moved its offices to One Knoll North in Oakland Mills, where Columbia Medical Practice is presently located. In 1988, CA moved to Lakeview Office Park, across Broken Land Parkway from Lake Elkhorn. CA moved its headquarters downtown to The Teachers Building in 1992.

The move will take place at the end of August 2015, CA reports.

Pictured, Hillside Center. Credit:First Potomac.