Merit Financial Buys Building for New HQ

KIRKLAND, WA-Merit Financial has acquired a 59,000-sf building here that is becoming its new corporate headquarters. The growing financial services firm, currently headquartered in leased space in Redmond, paid $12.5 million for the two-story structure near 124th Street and Willows Road.

Merit bought the building in shell condition from Michael Mastro and Stavros Anastasious. The building was completed in early 2002 and has been marketed as ValleyView Corporate Center but never leased or sold. A “for sale” listing for the property on officespace.com said the property has “beautiful territorial views of Sammamish River Valley and Mount Rainier.” Merit paid the asking price.

Merit employed the local architecture firm Freiheit & Ho to improve the building for tenancy and the design firm Interior Environments to create “an interior motif that accentuates the company’s brand identity.”

Amenities of Merit Financial Center include a fitness facility, a full deli complete with juice and coffee bars, and a 220-person auditorium that is divisible into three separate conference rooms. All Merit Financial divisions will be housed in the building.

Merit expects to be fully functioning out of the building by start of business January 5. The company adds it has plans for significant hiring during the first quarter of the New Year.