Columbia, SC Office Overview
The Columbia Metropolitan Area includes the Arsenal Hill, Colonial Park, and Robert Mills submarkets. With a metropolitan population of over 800,000 people, the economy in Columbia is driven in large part by the healthcare, education, and defense industries, all of which create a consistent, predictable demand for office space in Columbia.
As of mid-2017, the Greater Columbia market encompasses over 12 million square feet of existing office space in properties larger than 50,000 square feet. As the capital of South Carolina and the state's second-largest city, there is a consistently growing demand for Class A.
Columbia, SC Office Inventory Description
Both the economy of Columbia and the real estate market are diverse. With a gross metropolitan product of over $39 billion annually, there is robust demand for white-collar employment. Over 40% of the office inventory in Columbia is Class A or A+, with Class B properties adding another over 7.2 million square feet to the market.
The Bellview submarket in the city consistently sees strong demand from both tenants and investors alike. Located north and south of the Harden Street Extension between Main Street and State Route 16, this area is home to investment-grade properties such as the 1331 Elmwood Avenue, the Palmetto Health Richland - 1 Medical Park, and The Commons at Bullstreet - First Base Building at 2150 Harden Street.
Columbia, SC Commercial Inventory Breakdown
Office Spaces
Total: 12,371,827 SF
By square footage range:
- 50k to 100k SF: 4,252,173 SF / 34.37% of total office
- 100k to 500k SF: 8,119,654 SF / 65.63% of total office
By class:
- Class A: 4,930,241 SF / 39.85% of total office
- Class B: 6,739,136 SF / 54.47% of total office
- Class C: 702,450 SF / 5.68% of total office
Top 10 Largest Office Buildings
in Columbia
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Center | 1201 Main Street, 29201 | 460,000 | 1987 |
| 17 Technology Circle | 17 Technology Circle, 29203 | 456,304 | 1999 |
| Meridian | 1320 Main Street, 29201 | 335,000 | 2004 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield - 4101 Percival Road | 4101 Percival Road, 29229 | 318,740 | 2001 |
| 1901 Main Street | 1901 Main Street, 29201 | 303,156 | 1989 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield - Alpine Building | 2501 Faraway Drive, 29223 | 300,000 | 1968 |
| The Tower at 1301 Gervais | 1301 Gervais Street, 29201 | 298,926 | 1973 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield - Atrium Building | 2401 Faraway Drive, 29223 | 285,000 | 1993 |
| 1401 Shop Road | 1401 Shop Road, 29201 | 265,000 | 1988 |
| 1441 Main | 1441 Main Street, 29201 | 264,857 | 1988 |
Most Recently-Built Office Buildings
in Columbia
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovista - Innovation Center | 550 Assembly Street, 29201 | 110,000 | 2016 |
| The Commons at Bullstreet - First Base Building | 2142 Boyce Street, 29203 | 105,000 | 2016 |
| 522 Lady Street | 522 Lady Street, 29201 | 29,829 | 2015 |
| Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital - 300 Medical Office Building | 300 Palmetto Health Pkwy, 29212 | 80,000 | 2014 |
| AllSouth Federal Credit Union Headquarters | 730 Elmwood Avenue, 29201 | 62,000 | 2014 |
| Main & Gervais Office Tower | 1221 Main Street, 29201 | 205,000 | 2009 |
| 6437 Garners Ferry Road | 6437 Garners Ferry Road, 29209 | 150,333 | 2009 |
| Innovista - Discovery I | 915 Greene Street, 29208 | 72,000 | 2008 |
| Pinnacle Point Business Park - 1021 & 1074 Pinnacle Point Drive | 1021 Pinnacle Point Drive, 29223 | 70,255 | 2008 |
| Delta Executive Plaza | 1010 Wildwood Centre Drive, 29229 | 38,180 | 2007 |
Columbia, SC Green Office Space
The most recent survey of green office space in Columbia and the rest of the U.S. was conducted in 2017 by the National Green Building Adoption Index. The survey looked at the percentage of energy-efficient workspaces. In the top 30 U.S. office markets, the percentage of green buildings, or those that are either LEED-certified or EPA Energy Star-rated increased by 33% over the past 12 years.
A great example of a LEED-certified property is the 1441 Main building. With nearly 265,000 square feet of Class A space, this building was constructed in 1988. Located in the Downtown Columbia market, holds a LEED Gold certification. Looking at the metro area as a whole, there is just over 685,000 square feet of green space in the city, a percentage that is sure to increase as both investors and tenants realize the advantages of energy-efficient space.
Columbia, SC's Top Office-Using Sectors
The Columbia office market is driven in large part by the healthcare, manufacturing, government, defense and corporate sectors.
- Healthcare – organizations such as Palmetto Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and the Ritedose Corporation.
- Manufacturing – companies such as Square D, CMC Steel, Michelin, International Paper, Honeywell, and Westinghouse Electric.
- Government & Defense – Fort Jackson army base, McEntire Joint National Guard Station, and the South Carolina State House.
- Corporate Offices – large companies such as Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, AgFirst Farm Credit, and the regional law firm of Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does office space cost in Columbia, SC?
The average office rental rate in Columbia, SC is $18.38 per square foot. Asking prices vary based on the property’s location, overall rating, amenities, proximity to restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues, as well as public transport, airports and highways.
What is the size of available office spaces in Columbia, SC?
The Columbia, SC office market can accommodate various businesses, sporting a range of office space availabilities. The average size of office space availabilities is 94,743 square feet. If you’re just starting out as a company or as an entrepreneur, the smallest available office space in Columbia, SC is 383 square feet, while the maximum rentable space on the market now is 189,102 square feet.
How do I get office space in Columbia, SC?
Start your search for office space in Columbia, SC by using our filters that allow you to find the best space for your business needs. Filter listings by location, property size, available space or lease rate. Property pages will offer details about an office building’s rating, year built, availabilities, price per square foot and more. After drawing up a shortlist, make sure you contact the listed broker(s) to schedule a viewing and begin the negotiation process for your lease contract.
How many office listings are available in Columbia, SC?
There are 143 office listings on the Columbia, SC market.
Columbia Demographics
Population
- Total Population133,352
- Male Population(50.9 %) 67,812
- Female Population(49.1 %) 65,540
- Median Age28.30
Income/Financial
- Average Household Income$72,483
- Median Household Income$45,663
- Median Income Under 25$20,800
- Median Income 25-44$50,579
- Median Income 45-64$59,848
- Median Income Over 65$39,707
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