Duke Energy leans into hybrid, remote work and sells Clearwater office building
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 2, 2023

Duke Energy has sold its Clearwater office center to a Delaware investor for $5.35 million.

The two-story office building, located at 5225 Tech Data Drive, was sold on April 12, according to a deed filed in Pinellas County. The buyer was an entity linked to Azzam Properties Corp.

Duke Energy purchased the just over 70,000-square-foot building in April 2004 for $5.45 million, according to a Pinellas County deed. The office was built in 1988 and underwent a more than $3 million renovation in 2015, according to the property appraiser.

Ana Gibbs, Florida corporate communications manager for Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the utility has been re-examining its existing facilities to "determine if there is a greater benefit to all by consolidating and allocating resources elsewhere."

"Duke Energy continues to adapt its workplace strategy to the shifting needs of our business," Gibbs said. "Recent events have presented us with an opportunity to rethink where and how we do work. With input from employees, we've been successful in supporting the needs and preferences of our employees while continuing to provide our customers excellent service."

Gibbs said most of the team members at the Clearwater location are remote employees; the majority of the remaining employees follow a hybrid schedule. She said that workplace flexibility made it "easier to consolidate facilities." The hybrid and onsite employees have been "reassigned to nearby work locations."

Gibbs said exiting the building will not impact the employment status of any team members and that Duke Energy "remains committed to serving the Florida region."

The property is approximately 4.7 acres and includes 326 surface parking spaces. It is less than 6 miles from the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, about 2 miles from U.S. Highway 19 N and half a mile from Roosevelt Boulevard.

The buyer also owns an entire block along Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. According to a Pinellas County deed, the company purchased the property at 4355 Central Ave. in July 2021 for approximately $1.86 million from Squaremouth, a travel insurance company.