Global Innovation, World Renowned Hospitality And National Leader In Maritime Connectivity Announced At The Wharf

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from Hoffman-Madison Waterfront (HMW), developer of The Wharf, the $2 billion, mile-long neighborhood located on DC's Southwest waterfront, today introduced global law firm Fish & Richardson as the lead tenant for 1000 Maine Avenue; presented Canopy by Hilton's opening timetable and announced the much-anticipated regional water taxi system.

Today's announcement is highlighted by:

• Fish & Richardson, the Nation's premier patent litigation firm for 13 consecutive years, representing an international roster of innovative clients and influential industry leaders since 1878, has signed on as the lead office tenant of 1000 Maine and will occupy 60,000 square feet at The Wharf's trophy office building;
• Canopy by Hilton will open a distinctive 175 room hotel, serving guests from around the globe, becoming one of the first of the new Canopy brand to open its doors in North America;
• Entertainment Cruises will launch a robust regional water taxi system in Washington, DC, between The Wharf and several locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia as a showcase of its Maritime leadership;

These new partners further illustrate the transformative community that is now taking shape along the District's Southwest Waterfront. 

Fish & Richardson Announces Lease at 1000 Maine, the District's First Waterfront Trophy Office Building
HMW announces that global intellectual property and litigation law firm, Fish & Richardson, is the first confirmed tenant for 1000 Maine, the District's first waterfront trophy office. Founded in 1878, Fish is a prestigious addition to The Wharf community. Fish is a global firm with 11 offices in the U.S.– and an office in Munich, Germany. Its Washington, DC, office opened in 1989. The international firm has a rich history and has represented some of the world's most innovative and influential industry leaders dating back to visionaries Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright Brothers. Today, the firm's clients include Microsoft, Google, 3M, Velcro, Bose, Allergan and Genzyme, to name only a few. The firm will occupy the top two floors of what will be one of the most visible and recognizable office buildings on the East Coast.

"As a firm dedicated to serving innovators and inventors, we are delighted to be part of this incredibly innovative project," said Terry G. Mahn, managing principal of Fish's Washington, DC, office. "Fish looks forward to becoming an integral part of what promises to be a vibrant, mixed-use development that will appeal to our clients, attorneys and staff.  We are especially delighted that The Wharf will celebrate its industrial past because we are a firm that cherishes our own rich and storied history in patent law."

The 250,000 square foot building features 10-foot ceilings, a dramatic three-story lobby atrium and elegant materials throughout the design. 1000 Maine is being developed to LEED Gold Core and Shell standards and provides tenants with a uniquely customized space along with panoramic views of Washington, the waterfront and the nation's landmarks.

Canopy by Hilton
Hilton's new global lifestyle hotel brand, Canopy by Hilton will open its first location in North America at The Wharf. The 120,000 square foot hotel will have 175 rooms. It is located between Maine Avenue and Wharf Street, adjacent to 7th Street Park.

The Canopy brand is aimed at providing a uniquely independent, local and guest-centered experience that appeals to today's traveler. Canopy offers simple pleasures, thoughtful extras and surprises that go beyond a boutique-hotel environment. Canopy by Hilton Washington, DC, The Wharf will focus on this distinct waterfront neighborhood by incorporating local design, food and beverage and art.

"The Wharf is a truly ideal neighborhood for our Canopy by Hilton brand and we are thrilled to be a part of this amazing project," said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. "Our guests will be able to enjoy The Wharf throughout their entire journey including a welcome gift from the neighborhood, evening tastings of local craft brews and wines, and bike rides along through the neighborhood on our signature orange Canopy bikes."

Regional Water Taxi System
The Wharf, in partnership with Entertainment Cruises – the nation's largest dining and sightseeing cruise company – will create the first water taxi fleet serving the DMV. The water taxi system will transport people to and from The Wharf's Transit Pier with stops in Georgetown, Nationals Park, Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor, with the possibility of a larger network in the very near future. An app will provide real-time updates on the taxi schedule and will make connectivity to the DC waterfront easier and quicker than ever before.

Peak season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, with three routes that pick up more than 10 times per day at The Wharf. Off-peak seasons are March to May and September to December, with a minimum of four turns per day. The vessels hold a capacity of approximately 100 people. The vessels allow bikes and luggage on board and are outfitted with WIFI and outlets. The boats are currently being manufactured expressly for The Wharf in The Netherlands. Low wake designs allow more efficient service which will be approximately 20 minutes from The Wharf to Old Town Alexandria. These boats are environmentally friendly because they create less disturbance in the water and along the shorelines; using water taxi to travel around the region also reduces car traffic.

"Our newly expanded partnership with The Wharf offers a refreshing way to experience our beautiful city, as well as a comfortable and convenient way to access Alexandria, National Harbor and Georgetown," said Kenneth Svendsen, CEO of Entertainment Cruises, which owns and operates Potomac Riverboat Company. "The Wharf is the perfect launch point for us to build on more than 30 years of service and excellence and create unforgettable memories for even more residents and guests. We look forward to growing with the community for years to come."

About Fish & Richardson
Fish & Richardson is a global patent, intellectual property (IP) litigation, and commercial litigation law firm with more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists across the U.S. and Europe. Fish has been named the #1 patent litigation firm in the U.S. for 13 consecutive years and is one of the busiest post-grant firms, representing more petitioners at the PTAB than any other firm. Fish has been winning cases worth billions in controversy -- often by making new law -- for the most innovative clients and influential industry leaders since 1878. For more information, visit www.fr.com.

About Hilton Worldwide
Canopy by Hilton is the lifestyle brand of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of 12 world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,200 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 90,000 rooms in 93 countries and territories.

About Entertainment Cruises and Potomac Riverboat Company
Entertainment Cruises is the nation's largest dining cruise company, with 38 vessels serving over 1.8 million guests annually.   As a member of the Entertainment Cruises family, Alexandria-based Potomac Riverboat Company offers sightseeing tours, private charters and water taxi transportation to the greater Washington DC community. In addition to Potomac Riverboat Company, Entertainment Cruises' subsidiaries Spirit Cruises and Odyssey Cruises operate five vessels in the Washington, D.C. area, including Odyssey III, Spirit of Washington, Spirit of Mount Vernon, and private yachts National Elite and Capital Elite.  The combined organization, headquartered in Chicago, offers guests unmatched experiences with unique views of some of the nation's most beautiful skylines in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Norfolk. Entertainment Cruises is a member of Pritzker Group Private Capital's family of companies.   For more information, visit entertainmentcruises.com.

About The Wharf
The Wharf is a $2 billion, world-class, mixed-use waterfront development located on the Washington Channel Situated along the District of Columbia's Southwest Waterfront, The Wharf is adjacent to the National Mall with a development area that stretches nearly one mile, across 24 acres of land and 50 acres of water from the Municipal Fish Market to Fort McNair. When complete, The Wharf will feature more than three million square feet of new residential, office, hotel, retail, cultural, marina, and public uses including waterfront parks, promenades, piers, and docks, all showcased via their commitment to year round waterfront programming.

The Wharf is a large-scale waterfront development by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront. The Wharf development team is led by PN Hoffman and Madison Marquette and also includes ER Bacon Development, City Partners, Paramount Development and Triden Development. The first phase of The Wharf will open on October 12, 2017. More information about The Wharf is available at www.wharfdc.com.

For information about The Wharf, please contact Sofia Royce, sofia@brandlinkdc.com, 202.733.5223.

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SOURCE The Wharf