1 Beacon high-rise again on market

Real estate specialists say the tower's name tenants and marquee location should facilitate a sale. (Cyrus Moghtader for The Boston Globe)

The owners of One Beacon Street, a 1-million-square-foot office tower that houses prominent tenants including JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and the Skadden Arps law firm, are putting the building on the market, hoping to draw bids of more than $570 million, according to a person involved in the matter.

Beacon Capital Partners, which bought the property in 2006, is betting the building's marquee location and high-profile tenants will attract a deep-pocketed buyer, despite the slow market. Two years ago, the firm paid $423 million for the property.

Beacon Capital, led by Alan Leventhal, has bought and sold high-profile buildings for a substantial profit, including the Back Bay's iconic Hancock Tower, which it sold for nearly $1.4 billion in 2006.

No one at Beacon Capital would comment yesterday.

The effort to sell the building is a bold move, given the slowdown in investment sales. But real estate professionals said its size and 96 percent occupancy rate make it attractive.

"This is one of the premier properties in one of the premier markets in the country," said David Begelfer, executive director of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties in Massachusetts.

One Beacon, a 34-story tower, boasts marble and brass lobby finishes and panoramic views. It was built in 1972 and renovated in 1991, and it has remained a steady performer in the commercial market, attracting name tenants, which offer investment security for potential buyers.

The building also has the distinction of the being the city's only office tower certified under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a ratings system established by the US Green Building Council.

The certification means the building incorporates efficient lighting and plumbing technologies, as well as energy-saving devices for heating and cooling. The certification can mean substantial savings for tenants, and could be a key selling point.

Beacon Capital has spent more than $500,000 to modernize lighting and implement other energy-efficient upgrades.

The building is being marketed by the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.

Robert Griffin, president of Cushman & Wakefield of Massachusetts, said several other prominent buildings have attracted substantial numbers of bidders in recent months. "The Boston market remains a little more resilient than some of the others," he said.

Beacon Capital's strategy is to buy office buildings, increase their value through upgrades, and sell them for an 18 to 20 percent profit. The company owns properties in Cambridge, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.

Casey Ross can be reached at cross@globe.com.