WASHINGTON, DC – September 23, 2025 - JLL and D|Watts Construction announced today the lease and opening of YouthBuild Public Charter School at 419 7th Street, NW in Washington, DC. The lease includes nearly 17,000 square feet across the second and third floors, positioning YouthBuild as the largest tenant in the Class B building. The move provides enhanced connectivity through Metro accessibility for students across all Wards, and delivers a modernized space designed to inspire and engage learners.

“We are proud to have partnered with YouthBuild to achieve their goals,” said Branden Isaac, Executive Vice President, JLL. “This strategic placement at 419 7th Street exemplifies the creative reimagining of office space we're seeing across the market. The location delivers on YouthBuild's key requirements: exceptional Metro accessibility ensures students can easily commute from throughout the city, while the neighborhood stands poised for major revitalization. With Mayor Bowser's commitments and the transformative Capital One Center redevelopment, Penn Quarter is set to become even more vibrant. YouthBuild now joins a community of forward-thinking organizations dedicated to advancing the city's youth—while owners like DC Odd Fellows are pioneering innovative solutions to vacancy challenges by thinking beyond traditional office uses.

JLL played a pivotal role as a strategic advisor to YouthBuild, leveraging market expertise to identify a location that met the school's unique needs while presenting an innovative use for a Class B office building. Through creative negotiations that reimagined the building's potential uses, JLL worked closely with DC Odd Fellows to transform the second and third floors from traditional office space into a dynamic educational environment.

“The move to Penn Quarter marks a new chapter for YouthBuild,” said Keisha Morris, Chief Operating Officer, YouthBuild DC Public Charter School. “Our new space not only allows us to expand our impact and increase accessibility for students across the city, but it also places us in a thriving community that values education, workforce development and opportunity.”

This unique office user showcases the versatility of existing building amenities. YouthBuild benefits from adjacency to the AIA showcase space, which aligns perfectly with the school's workforce training and construction education mission, while the tenant ballroom provided an ideal venue for the school's annual gala—illustrating how creative tenants can maximize traditional office building features.

“At D|Watts we believe in investing in the next generation,” stated Jeremiah Watts, Co-Founder & CEO, D|Watts Construction. “This project was incredibly meaningful to the entire team as it represents an investment in the future of our industry. We're incredibly proud to deliver a space that empowers YouthBuild's educational mission here in Washington, D.C.”

This relocation aligns with the District of Columbia’s broader push, led by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), to re-envision office spaces for new uses that generate lasting community benefits. YouthBuild welcomed its students for the new year on August 20.

JLL’s Andy O’Brien and Brandon Isaac represented YouthBuild. CBRE’s John Pacheco and Tony Bolino represented the owner, Odd Fellows Hall Association.

For more information about JLL DC, visit www.us.jll.com/en/locations/mid-atlantic/washington-dc. For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL’s newsroom.