CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock Held in Trust and Limited Voting Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 956,006	$ 128,942	$ 56	$ 0	$ 907,254	$ (4,425)	$ (337,813)	$ 261,992
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(12,037)						(19,650)	7,613
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,779					2,246		7,533
Common dividends declared	(42,007)						(41,838)	(169)
Preferred dividends declared - $0.63 per share	(3,433)						(3,433)
Dividends on preferred stock redemption	(6,604)						(6,604)
Share-based compensation	5,725				5,725
Series D Preferred Stock redemption	(128,942)	(128,942)
Issuance of shares to Directors	220				220
Issuance of shares of common stock	540,499		31		540,468
Issuance of shares pursuant to TPG Management Services Agreement	450				450
Buyback of 3,365 shares to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock	(49)				(49)
Issuance of Operating Partnership units	96,409							96,409
Issuance of 238,357 shares of common stock upon redemption of Operating Partnership units	0				4,302			(4,302)
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	4			4
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	34,230							34,230
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(29,267)							(29,267)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(85,462)				(30,344)			(55,118)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,335,521	0	87	4	1,428,026	(2,179)	(409,338)	318,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	44,208						42,943	1,265
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,758)					(3,987)		229
Common dividends declared	(81,262)						(77,362)	(3,900)
Share-based compensation	6,733				6,733
Issuance of shares to Directors	309				309
Issuance of shares of common stock	417,684		24		417,660
Issuance of shares pursuant to TPG Management Services Agreement	375				375
Issuance of Operating Partnership units	1,546							1,546
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	4,175							4,175
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,713)							(2,713)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share of office properties owned by Parkway Properties Office Fund II, L.P.	(1,963)							(1,963)
Exercise of Madison Put Option related to merger with Thomas Properties Group, Inc.	(41,539)				(10,522)			(31,017)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,679,316	0	111	4	1,842,581	(6,166)	(443,757)	286,543
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	94,723						67,335	27,388
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,499					(33)		1,532
Common dividends declared	(87,432)						(83,709)	(3,723)
Share-based compensation	5,955				5,955
Issuance of shares to Directors	275				275
Issuance of Operating Partnership units	0
Issuance of 238,357 shares of common stock upon redemption of Operating Partnership units	0		1		6,336			(6,337)
Issuance of 4,451,461 shares of limited voting stock	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interests	2,125							2,125
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(60,016)							(60,016)
Other	(234)				(234)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,636,211	$ 0	$ 112	$ 4	$ 1,854,913	$ (6,199)	$ (460,131)	$ 247,512