New Name and Location for Tetra Partners

Tetra Partners, the Reston-based commercial real estate firm, has a new name and a new location as Reston Association prepares to take over Tetra’s former offices at 11450 Baron Cameron Drive.

Tetra will now be called Lauer Commercial, named for Tetra founder Bill Lauer, and will be located at 1899 Preston White Drive in Reston.

The building, formerly the Reston Visitors Center used by developers as a sales office from 1983 to 2003, was purchased by Tetra in 2003 and used as its offices since.

Tetra sold the building, which sits on 3.47 acres overlooking Lake Newport, to Reston Association for $2.65 million this year. After several contentious community meetings and a member referendum, the sale closed in late July.

RA plans to renovate the building and use it for community and event rental space. It will likely be renamed as Comstock Partners earned 10 years of naming rights in a development agreement with RA. Comstock is giving RA $650,000 as part of a deal that adds BLVD Apartments at Reston Station to the association.

As part of the sales agreement, Tetra is renting back the property from RA through the end of 2015 at $8,098 per month. Even though Lauer Commercial is publicizing a new address, it is still bound by contract to pay for the old space through Dec. 31, said RA spokesman Mike Leone. Lauer Commercial reps did not return messages.

RA is in the process of forming a working group made up of various community members. The group will formulate plans for the building’s use. RA CEO Cate Fulkerson has said the association expects RA programming the the building by spring 2016.

Andy Lauer, Bill Lauer’s son and a principal at Lauer Commercial, said in an email to clients he is renaming the firm to honor his father’s legacy. Bill Lauer, a longtime Reston resident who was active in many nonprofits and community groups, died suddenly in May.