10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020

OR

☐         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-9317

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland	04-6558834
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL	60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)
(312) 646-2800
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title Of Each Class	Trading Symbol	Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest	EQC	The New York Stock Exchange
6.50% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest	EQCpD	The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ý  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ý  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ý

Number of registrant’s common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding as of July 24, 2020:  121,521,624.

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

FORM 10-Q

June 30, 2020

INDEX

		Page
PART I	Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements (unaudited)
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	17
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	29
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	29
PART II	Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	30
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	30
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	30
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	30
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	30
Item 5.	Other Information	30
Item 6.	Exhibits	31
	Signatures	32

EXPLANATORY NOTE

References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company,” “EQC,” “we,” “us” or “our,” refer to Equity Commonwealth and its consolidated subsidiaries as of June 30, 2020, unless the context indicates otherwise.

i

PART I.      Financial Information

Item 1.         Financial Statements.

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	June 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
			(audited)
ASSETS
Real estate properties:
Land	$	44,060	$	85,627
Buildings and improvements	353,665		576,494
	397,725		662,121
Accumulated depreciation	(139,061)		(202,700)
	258,664		459,421
Cash and cash equivalents	3,437,775		2,795,642
Restricted cash	4,103		5,003
Rents receivable	13,968		19,554
Other assets, net	18,645		39,757
Total assets	$	3,733,155	$	3,319,377
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Mortgage notes payable, net	$	25,281	$	25,691
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	25,821		37,153
Rent collected in advance	2,521		3,127
Distributions payable	5,791		7,534
Total liabilities	59,414		73,505
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized;
Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible; 4,915,196 shares issued and    outstanding, aggregate liquidation preference of $122,880	119,263		119,263
Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 350,000,000 shares authorized;    121,521,624 and 121,924,199 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,215		1,219
Additional paid in capital	4,288,245		4,313,831
Cumulative net income	3,816,245		3,363,654
Cumulative common distributions	(3,852,856)		(3,851,666)
Cumulative preferred distributions	(705,718)		(701,724)
Total shareholders’ equity	3,666,394		3,244,577
Noncontrolling interest	7,347		1,295
Total equity	3,673,741		3,245,872
Total liabilities and equity	$	3,733,155	$	3,319,377

See accompanying notes.

1

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Revenues:
Rental revenue	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	32,391	$	69,464
Other revenue	1,017		2,794		2,694		5,656
Total revenues	16,265		33,368		35,085		75,120
Expenses:
Operating expenses	6,677		10,974		15,438		26,754
Depreciation and amortization	4,398		7,561		9,512		16,146
General and administrative	8,302		9,533		18,906		21,629
Total expenses	19,377		28,068		43,856		64,529
Interest and other income, net	4,443		20,695		16,338		38,470
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt discounts,    premiums and deferred financing fees of $(60), $154, $(116) and    $319, respectively)	(302)		(4,070)		(611)		(8,276)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—		(6,374)		—		(6,374)
Gain on sale of properties, net	26,916		227,166		446,536		420,203
Income before income taxes	27,945		242,717		453,492		454,614
Income tax expense	(59)		(340)		(99)		(1,640)
Net income	27,886		242,377		453,393		452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth	27,832		242,286		452,591		452,804
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		(1,997)		(3,994)		(3,994)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders	$	25,835	$	240,289	$	448,597	$	448,810
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic	121,655		122,122		121,901		122,041
Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted	123,255		125,862		126,358		125,841
Earnings per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic	$	0.21	$	1.97	$	3.68	$	3.68
Diluted	$	0.21	$	1.93	$	3.58	$	3.60

See accompanying notes.

2

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	—		—		—		342
Total comprehensive income	27,886		242,377		453,393		453,316
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Equity Commonwealth	$	27,832	$	242,286	$	452,591	$	453,146

See accompanying notes.

3

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	Equity Commonwealth Shareholders
	Number of Series D Preferred Shares	Series D Preferred Shares		Number of Common Shares	Common Shares		Additional Paid in Capital		Cumulative Net Income		Cumulative Common Distributions		Cumulative Preferred Distributions		Noncontrolling Interest		Total
Balance at April 1, 2020	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,502,520	$	1,215	$	4,285,266	$	3,788,413	$	(3,852,856)	$	(703,721)	$	7,034	$	3,644,614
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		27,832		—		—		54		27,886
Share-based compensation	—	—		19,104	—		2,906		—		—		—		362		3,268
Contributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		1		1
Distributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(1,997)		—		(1,997)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		(31)		(31)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		73		—		—		—		(73)		—
Balance at June 30, 2020	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,521,624	$	1,215	$	4,288,245	$	3,816,245	$	(3,852,856)	$	(705,718)	$	7,347	$	3,673,741
Balance at January 1, 2020	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,924,199	$	1,219	$	4,313,831	$	3,363,654	$	(3,851,666)	$	(701,724)	$	1,295	$	3,245,872
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		452,591		—		—		802		453,393
Repurchase of shares	—	—		(711,000)	(7)		(20,862)		—		—		—		—		(20,869)
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	—	—		(183,466)	(2)		(6,010)		—		—		—		—		(6,012)
Share-based compensation	—	—		491,891	5		5,859		—		—		—		707		6,571
Contributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		1		1
Distributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		(1,190)		(3,994)		—		(5,184)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		(31)		(31)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		(4,573)		—		—		—		4,573		—
Balance at June 30, 2020	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,521,624	$	1,215	$	4,288,245	$	3,816,245	$	(3,852,856)	$	(705,718)	$	7,347	$	3,673,741

See accompanying notes.

4

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Continued)

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	Equity Commonwealth Shareholders
	Number of Series D Preferred Shares	Series D Preferred Shares		Number of Common Shares	Common Shares		Additional Paid in Capital		Cumulative Net Income		Cumulative Common Distributions		Cumulative Preferred Distributions		Cumulative Other Comprehensive Loss		Noncontrolling Interest		Total
Balance at April 1, 2019	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,899,625	$	1,219	$	4,304,560	$	3,081,492	$	(3,420,512)	$	(695,733)	$	—	$	1,272	$	3,391,561
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		242,286		—		—		—		91		242,377
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	—	—		(4,414)	—		(145)		—		—		—		—		—		(145)
Share-based compensation	—	—		26,909	—		3,393		—		—		—		—		328		3,721
Distributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		106		(1,997)		—		—		(1,891)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		241		—		—		—		—		(241)		—
Balance at June 30, 2019	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,922,120	$	1,219	$	4,308,049	$	3,323,778	$	(3,420,406)	$	(697,730)	$	—	$	1,450	$	3,635,623
Balance at January 1, 2019	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,572,155	$	1,216	$	4,305,974	$	2,870,974	$	(3,420,548)	$	(693,736)	$	(342)	$	1,197	$	3,183,998
Net income	—	—		—	—		—		452,804		—		—		—		170		452,974
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		342		—		342
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	—	—		(168,327)	(2)		(5,485)						—		—		—		(5,487)
Share-based compensation	—	—		518,292	5		6,978		—		—		—		—		665		7,648
Distributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		142		(3,994)		—		—		(3,852)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest	—	—		—	—		582		—		—		—		—		(582)		—
Balance at June 30, 2019	4,915,196	$	119,263	121,922,120	$	1,219	$	4,308,049	$	3,323,778	$	(3,420,406)	$	(697,730)	$	—	$	1,450	$	3,635,623

See accompanying notes.

5

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	453,393	$	452,974
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	8,105		13,531
Net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees	(116)		319
Straight line rental income	713		(848)
Amortization of acquired real estate leases	—		105
Other amortization	1,407		2,375
Amortization of right-of-use asset	379		364
Share-based compensation	6,571		7,648
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—		6,374
Net gain on sale of properties	(446,536)		(420,203)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Rents receivable and other assets	515		(8,036)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	(576)		(11,179)
Rent collected in advance	(606)		(2,183)
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,249		41,241
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Real estate improvements	(2,937)		(18,073)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	655,053		771,787
Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities	—		250,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	652,116		1,003,714
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchase and retirement of common shares	(26,881)		(5,487)
Payments on borrowings	(294)		(255,557)
Contributions from holders of noncontrolling interest	1		—
Distributions to common shareholders	(1,936)		(1,160)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(3,994)		(3,994)
Distributions to holders of noncontrolling interest	(997)		—
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(31)		—
Net cash used in financing activities	(34,132)		(266,198)
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	641,233		778,757
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	2,800,645		2,404,101
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$	3,441,878	$	3,182,858

See accompanying notes.

6

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

(amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid	$	732	$	12,291
Taxes (refunded) paid, net	(1,555)		2,873
NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Recognition of right-of-use asset and lease liability	$	—	$	1,503
Accrued capital expenditures	$	2,733	$	3,992
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Distributions payable	$	5,791	$	2,766

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

	June 30,
	2020		2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,437,775	$	3,180,548
Restricted cash	4,103		2,310
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows	$	3,441,878	$	3,182,858

See accompanying notes.

7

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1.  Business

Equity Commonwealth, or the Company, is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, formed in 1986 under the laws of the State of Maryland. Our business is primarily the ownership and operation of office properties in the United States.

On November 10, 2016, the Company converted to what is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust, or UPREIT. In connection with this conversion, the Company contributed substantially all of its assets to EQC Operating Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or the Operating Trust, and the Operating Trust assumed substantially all of the Company’s liabilities pursuant to a contribution and assignment agreement between the Company and the Operating Trust.

Since that time, the Company has conducted and intends to continue to conduct substantially all of its activities through the Operating Trust. The Company beneficially owned 99.8% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest, designated as units, in the Operating Trust, or OP Units, as of June 30, 2020, and the Company is the sole trustee of the Operating Trust.  As the sole trustee, the Company generally has the power under the declaration of trust of the Operating Trust to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Trust, subject to certain limited approval and voting rights of other holders of OP Units.

At June 30, 2020, our portfolio consisted of four properties (eight buildings), with a combined 1.5 million square feet. As of June 30, 2020, we had $3.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents.

Note 2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of EQC have been prepared without audit.  Certain information and footnote disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  We believe the disclosures made are appropriate.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, or our Annual Report, for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Capitalized terms used, but not defined in this Quarterly Report, have the same meanings as in our Annual Report.

In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included.  All intercompany transactions and balances with or among our subsidiaries have been eliminated.  Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates in the condensed consolidated financial statements include the assessment of the collectability of rental revenue, purchase price allocations, useful lives of fixed assets and impairment of real estate and intangible assets.

Share amounts are presented in whole numbers, except where noted.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC 820. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

8

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires more timely recognition of credit losses associated with financial assets. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Note 3.  Real Estate Properties

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we made improvements, excluding tenant-funded improvements, to our properties totaling $4.3 million and $8.5 million, respectively.

Property Dispositions:

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold the following properties, which did not represent strategic shifts under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
109 Brookline Avenue	February 2020	1	1	285,556	$	270,000	$	225,190
333 108th Avenue NE(2)	March 2020	1	1	435,406	401,500		194,424
Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings	May 2020	1	2	240,475	85,000		24,916
		3	4	961,437	$	756,500	$	444,530

(1)Gross sale price is before credits, primarily for contractual lease costs, and transfer taxes.

(2)The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $28,000 and $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $193.2 million, of which $194.4 million related to the gain on sale, and $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we sold the following properties, which did not represent a strategic shift under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
1735 Market Street(2)	March 2019	1	1	1,286,936	$	451,600	$	192,985
600 108th Avenue NE(3)	April 2019	1	1	254,510	195,000		149,009
Research Park(4)	June 2019	1	4	1,110,007	165,500		78,158
		3	6	2,651,453	$	812,100	$	420,152

(1)Gross sale price is before credits for capital costs, contractual lease costs and rent abatements.

(2)Certain of our subsidiaries sold 100.0% of the equity interests in the fee simple owner of this property. The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $0.1 million and $197.2 million (of which $193.0 million related to the gain on sale) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.

(3)The property includes an office building and additional developmental rights.

(4)There was consideration of $2.0 million being held in escrow related to the sale of this property in 2019. In June 2020, these proceeds were released to the Company, and we recorded an additional $2.0 million gain on the sale for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

9

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Lease Payments

The FASB has issued additional guidance for companies to account for any COVID-19 related rent concessions in the form of FASB staff and board members’ remarks at the April 8, 2020 public meeting and the FASB staff question-and-answer document issued on April 10, 2020. We have elected the practical expedient to account for COVID-19 related rent concessions as if they were part of the enforceable rights and obligations of the parties under the existing lease contract. This policy has been elected for our lessor portfolio for any rent deferrals, and we have elected to treat the related leases as if they are unchanged. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, we deferred collection of approximately $42,000 of rental income on revenue that was recognized in the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Rental revenue consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Lease payments	$	9,983	$	20,429	$	21,753	$	48,334
Variable lease payments	5,265		10,145		10,638		21,130
Rental revenue	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	32,391	$	69,464

Note 4.  Indebtedness

Mortgage Note Payable:

At June 30, 2020, one of our properties with an aggregate net book value of $42.8 million had a secured mortgage note totaling $25.3 million (including a net premium and unamortized deferred financing fees) maturing in 2021. As of July 5, 2020, we repaid this mortgage debt at par (see Note 13).

Note 5.  Shareholders’ Equity

Common Share Issuances:

See Note 8 for information regarding equity issuances related to share-based compensation.

Common Share Repurchases:

On March 13, 2019, our Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of our outstanding common shares over the twelve months following the date of authorization, or the March 2019 Authorization. In March 2020, this share repurchase authorization, of which $129.2 million was not utilized, expired. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we repurchased 711,000 of our common shares under the March 2019 Authorization, at a weighted average price of $29.31 per share, for a total investment of $20.8 million. On March 10, 2020, our Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $150.0 million of our outstanding common shares over the twelve months following the date of authorization, none of which has been utilized.

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, certain of our employees surrendered 183,466 and 168,327 common shares owned by them, respectively, to satisfy their statutory tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of such common shares pursuant to our equity compensation plans.

Common Share and Unit Distribution:

In February 2020, the number of earned awards for certain recipients of the Company’s restricted stock units and market-based LTIP Units was determined. Pursuant to the terms of such awards, we paid a one-time catch-up cash distribution to these recipients in the aggregate amount of $2.9 million for distributions to common shareholders and unitholders declared by our Board of Trustees during such awards' performance measurement period.

10

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Preferred Share Distributions:

In 2020, our Board of Trustees declared distributions on our series D preferred shares to date as follows:

Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Series D Dividend Per Share
January 10, 2020	January 30, 2020	February 18, 2020	$	0.40625
April 9, 2020	April 29, 2020	May 15, 2020	$	0.40625
July 8, 2020	July 29, 2020	August 17, 2020	$	0.40625

Note 6.  Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest represents the portion of the OP Units not beneficially owned by the Company. The ownership of an OP Unit and a common share of beneficial interest have essentially the same economic characteristics. Distributions with respect to OP Units will generally mirror distributions with respect to the Company’s common shares. Unitholders (other than the Company) generally have the right, commencing six months from the date of issuance of such OP Units, to cause the Operating Trust to redeem their OP Units in exchange for cash or, at the option of the Company, common shares of the Company on a one-for-one basis. As sole trustee, the Company has the sole discretion to elect whether the redemption right will be satisfied by the Company in cash or the Company’s common shares. As a result, the Noncontrolling interest is classified as permanent equity. As of June 30, 2020, the portion of the Operating Trust not beneficially owned by the Company is in the form of OP Units and LTIP Units (see Note 8 for a description of LTIP Units). LTIP Units may be subject to additional vesting requirements.

The following table presents the changes in Equity Commonwealth’s issued and outstanding common shares and units for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

	Common Shares	OP Units and LTIP Units	Total
Outstanding at January 1, 2020	121,924,199	48,660	121,972,859
Repurchase of shares	(894,466)	—	(894,466)
OP Unit redemption	—	(1,000)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures	491,891	195,856	687,747
Outstanding at June 30, 2020	121,521,624	243,516	121,765,140
Noncontrolling ownership interest in the Operating Trust			0.20	%

The carrying value of the Noncontrolling interest is allocated based on the number of OP Units and LTIP Units in proportion to the number of OP Units and LTIP Units plus the number of common shares. We adjust the Noncontrolling interest balance at the end of each period to reflect the noncontrolling partners’ interest in the net assets of the Operating Trust. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Trust based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period. Equity Commonwealth’s weighted average ownership interest in the Operating Trust was 99.81% and 99.84% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

Note 7.  Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and are generally not subject to federal and state income taxes provided we distribute a sufficient amount of our taxable income to our shareholders and meet other requirements for qualifying as a REIT.  However, we are subject to certain state and local taxes without regard to our REIT status.

11

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Our provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Current:
State and local	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(640)
Deferred:
State and local	—		—		—		(1,000)
Income tax expense	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(1,640)

Note 8. Share-Based Compensation

Recipients of the Company’s restricted shares have the same voting rights as any other common shareholder. During the period of restriction, holders of unvested restricted shares are eligible to receive dividend payments on their shares at the same rate and on the same date as any other common shareholder.  The restricted shares are service based awards and vest over a four-year period.

Recipients of the Company’s restricted stock units, or RSUs, are entitled to receive dividends with respect to the common shares underlying the RSUs if and when the RSUs are earned, at which time the recipient will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of cash dividends that would have been paid in respect of the common shares underlying the recipient’s earned RSUs had such common shares been issued to the recipient on the first day of the performance period. To the extent that an award does not vest, the dividends related to unvested RSUs will be forfeited. The RSUs are market-based awards with a service condition and recipients may earn RSUs based on the Company’s total shareholder return, or TSR, relative to the TSRs of the companies that comprise the Nareit Office Index over a three-year performance period. Following the end of the three-year performance period, the number of earned awards will be determined. The earned awards vest in two tranches with 50% of the earned award vesting following the end of the performance period on the date the Compensation Committee of our Board of Trustees, or the Committee, determines the level of achievement of the performance metric and the remaining 50% of the earned award vesting approximately one year thereafter, subject to the grant recipient’s continued employment. Compensation expense for the RSUs is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model and is recognized ratably from the grant date to the vesting date of each tranche.

LTIP Units are a class of beneficial interests in the Operating Trust that may be issued to employees, officers or trustees of the Operating Trust, the Company or their subsidiaries. Time-based LTIP Units have the same general characteristics as restricted shares and market-based LTIP Units have the same general characteristics as RSUs. Each LTIP Unit will convert automatically into an OP Unit on a one-for-one basis when the LTIP Unit becomes vested and its capital account is equalized with the per-unit capital account of the OP Units. Holders of LTIP Units generally will be entitled to receive the same per-unit distributions as the other outstanding OP Units in the Operating Trust, except that market-based LTIP Units will not participate in distributions until expiration of the applicable performance period, at which time any earned market-based LTIP Units generally will become entitled to receive a catch-up distribution for the periods prior to such time.

2020 Equity Award Activity

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, 387,729 RSUs vested, and, as a result, we issued 387,729 common shares, prior to certain employees surrendering their common shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations (see Note 5).

On June 23, 2020, in accordance with the Company’s compensation plan for independent Trustees, the Committee awarded each of the nine independent Trustees $0.1 million in restricted shares or time-based LTIP Units as part of their compensation for the 2020-2021 year of service on the Board of Trustees. These awards equated to 3,184 shares or time-based LTIP Units per Trustee, for a total of 19,104 shares and 9,552 time-based LTIP Units, valued at $31.41 per share and unit, the closing price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, on that day. These shares and time-based LTIP Units vest one year after the date of the award.

12

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

On January 27, 2020, the Committee approved grants in the aggregate amount of 20,116 time-based LTIP Units, 40,841 market-based LTIP Units at target (101,796 market-based LTIP Units at maximum), 85,058 restricted shares and 172,697 RSUs at target (430,447 RSUs at maximum) to the Company’s officers, certain employees, an eligible consultant and to Mr. Zell, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees, as part of their compensation for fiscal year 2019. The restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units were valued at $32.81 per share and per unit, the closing price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the grant date. The assumptions and fair value for the RSUs and market-based LTIP Units granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 are included in the following table on a per share and per unit basis.

	2020
Fair value of market-based awards granted	$	40.17
Expected term (years)	4
Expected volatility	12.39		%
Risk-free rate	1.41		%

2019 Equity Award Activity

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, 382,413 RSUs vested, and, as a result, we issued 382,413 common shares, prior to certain employees surrendering their common shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

On June 20, 2019, in accordance with the Company’s compensation plan for independent Trustees, the Committee awarded each of the nine independent Trustees $0.1 million in restricted shares or time-based LTIP Units as part of their compensation for the 2019-2020 year of service on the Board of Trustees. These awards equated to 2,940 shares or time-based LTIP Units per Trustee, for a total of 23,520 shares and 2,940 time-based LTIP Units, valued at $34.01 per share and unit, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE on that day. These shares and time-based LTIP Units vest one year after the date of the award.

On January 29, 2019, the Committee approved grants in the aggregate amount of 112,359 restricted shares and 228,128 RSUs at target (568,609 RSUs at maximum) to the Company’s officers, certain employees and to Mr. Zell, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees, as part of their compensation for fiscal year 2018. The restricted shares were valued at $31.77 per share, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE on the grant date. The RSUs were valued at $39.65 per share, their fair value on the grant date.

Outstanding Equity Awards

As of June 30, 2020, the estimated future compensation expense for all unvested restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units was $8.1 million. Compensation expense for the restricted share and time-based LTIP Unit awards is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. The weighted average period over which the future compensation expense will be recorded for the restricted shares and time-based LTIP units is approximately 2.5 years.

As of June 30, 2020, the estimated future compensation expense for all unvested RSUs and market-based LTIP Units was $15.9 million. The weighted average period over which the future compensation expense will be recorded for the RSUs and market-based LTIP Units is approximately 2.4 years.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded $3.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded $6.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively, of compensation expense, net of forfeitures, in general and administrative expense for grants to our trustees and employees related to our equity compensation plans. Compensation expense recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 includes $0.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and compensation expense recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 includes $18,000 and $0.8 million, respectively, of accelerated vesting due to staffing reductions. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. At June 30, 2020, 2,291,799 shares/units remain available for issuance under the Equity Commonwealth 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended.

13

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 9.  Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

As of June 30, 2020, we do not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value.

Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and mortgage note payable.  At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value of these additional financial instruments was not materially different from their carrying values, except as follows (in thousands):

	June 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Principal Balance		Fair Value		Principal Balance		Fair Value
Mortgage note payable	$	25,139	$	25,139	$	25,433	$	26,071

Other financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of rents receivable. As of June 30, 2020, no single tenant of ours is responsible for more than 5.0% of our consolidated revenues.

14

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 10.  Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Numerator for earnings per common share - basic:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		(1,997)		(3,994)		(3,994)
Numerator for net income per share - basic	$	25,835	$	240,289	$	448,597	$	448,810
Numerator for earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		—		—		—
Numerator for net income per share - diluted	$	25,835	$	242,286	$	452,591	$	452,804
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic(1)	121,655		122,122		121,901		122,041
RSUs(2)	1,524		1,005		1,524		1,064
LTIP Units(3)	76		172		76		173
Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	—		2,563		2,857		2,563
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	123,255		125,862		126,358		125,841
Net income per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic	$	0.21	$	1.97	$	3.68	$	3.68
Diluted	$	0.21	$	1.93	$	3.58	$	3.60
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	2,857		—		—		—
Effect of LTIP Units	124		32		107		34
Effect of OP Units(5)	110		14		92		12

(1) The three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 150 and 220 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively, and the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 164 and 203 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively.

(2) Represents weighted-average number of common shares that would have been issued if the quarter-end was the measurement date for unvested, unearned RSUs.

(3) Represents the weighted-average dilutive shares issuable from LTIP Units if the quarter-end was the measurement date for the periods shown.

(4) The Series D preferred shares are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three months ended June 30, 2020 because including the Series D preferred shares would also require that the preferred distributions be added back to net income, resulting in anti-dilution.

(5) Beneficial interests in the Operating Trust.

15

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

Note 11.  Segment Information

Our primary business is the ownership and operation of office properties, and we currently have one reportable segment.  One hundred percent of our revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were from office properties. 

Note 12.  Related Person Transactions

The following discussion includes a description of our related person transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership: We have a lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated with Mr. Zell, our Chairman, to occupy office space on the twentieth and twenty-first floors of Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois (20th/21st Floor Office Lease), which had an initial term of approximately five years. The 20th/21st Floor Office Lease expires December 31, 2020. We made improvements to the office space utilizing the $0.7 million tenant improvement allowance pursuant to the lease. In connection with the 20th/21st Floor Office Lease, we also have a storage lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership for storage space in the basement of Two North Riverside Plaza. The storage lease expires December 31, 2020; however, each party has the right to terminate on 30 days’ prior written notice. During the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recognized expense of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recognized expense of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, pursuant to the 20^th/21^st Floor Office Lease and the related storage space.

Note 13.  Subsequent Events

As of July 5, 2020, we repaid at par $25.1 million of mortgage debt at 206 East 9th Street.

On July 8, 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a dividend of $0.40625 per series D preferred share, which will be paid on August 17, 2020 to shareholders of record on July 29, 2020.

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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in our Annual Report.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws including, but not limited to, statements pertaining to our capital resources, portfolio performance, results of operations or anticipated market conditions, including our statements regarding the overall impact of COVID-19 on the foregoing to the extent we make any such statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report and in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

OVERVIEW

We are an internally managed and self-advised REIT primarily engaged in the ownership and operation of office properties in the United States. We were formed in 1986 under Maryland law. The Company operates as what is commonly referred to as an UPREIT, conducting substantially all of its activities through the Operating Trust. As of June 30, 2020, the Company beneficially owned 99.80% of the outstanding OP Units.

At June 30, 2020, our portfolio consisted of four properties (eight buildings), with a combined 1.5 million square feet and a total undepreciated book value of $397.7 million, and a depreciated book value of $258.7 million. As of June 30, 2020, we had $3.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents.

We use leasing and occupancy metrics to evaluate the performance of our properties. These metrics provide useful information to investors because they reflect the leasing activity and vacant space at the properties and may facilitate comparisons of our leasing and occupancy metrics with other REITs and real estate companies.

As of June 30, 2020, our overall portfolio was 90.1% leased. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we entered into one new lease for 22,000 square feet, and no lease renewals. The new lease entered into during the three months ended June 30, 2020 had weighted average cash and GAAP rental rates that were approximately 4.8% lower and 2.3% higher, respectively, than prior rental rates for the same space.  The change in GAAP rents is different than the change in cash rents due to differences in the amount of rent abatements, the magnitude and timing of contractual rent increases over the lease term, and the length of term for the newly executed leases compared to the prior leases. Percent change in GAAP and cash rents is a comparison of current rent, including estimated tenant expense reimbursements, if any, to the rent, including actual/projected tenant expense reimbursements, if any, last received for the same space on a GAAP and cash basis, respectively. Cash rent during the reporting period is calculated before deducting any initial period free rent.

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold three properties with a combined 1.0 million square feet for an aggregate gross sale price of $756.5 million.  For more information regarding these transactions, see Note 3 to the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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We have engaged CBRE, Inc., or CBRE, to provide property management services for our properties. We pay CBRE a property-by-property management fee and may engage CBRE from time-to-time to perform project management services, such as coordinating and overseeing the completion of tenant improvements and other capital projects at the properties. We reimburse CBRE for certain expenses incurred in the performance of its duties, including certain personnel and equipment costs. For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we incurred expenses of $0.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we incurred expenses of $1.7 million and $3.0 million, respectively, related to our property management agreement with CBRE, for property management fees, typically calculated as a percentage of the properties’ revenues, and salary and benefits reimbursements for property personnel, such as property managers, engineers and maintenance staff.  As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had amounts payable pursuant to these services of $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

In connection with repositioning our portfolio, we may sell additional properties, depending on market conditions. With the progress we have made executing dispositions, and the strength and liquidity of our balance sheet, we are in a position to shift our focus to capital allocation. We may use our capital for acquisitions and/or investments in new properties or businesses, repurchase shares or make distributions that further our long-term strategic goals.

The set of opportunities that we pursue may include acquisitions and/or investments in office or non-office property types. We expect any efforts in the office sector to be primarily focused on multi-tenant office assets that can be acquired at a discount to replacement cost in markets and sub-markets with favorable long-term supply and demand fundamentals.

We may be unable to identify suitable investment opportunities. If we do not redeploy capital, we will strive to achieve a sale, liquidation or otherwise exit our business in one or more transactions in a manner that optimizes shareholder value. We are unable to predict if or when we will make a determination to sell, liquidate or otherwise exit our business.

Our business may be impacted by the evolving COVID-19 outbreak. Since first surfacing, the outbreak has spread throughout the world and has significantly impacted the United States. The pandemic has led to severe business disruptions, including a dramatic decline in economic activity generally. The duration of the business disruption is unknown at this time. We and the vast majority of our tenants are currently working remotely and are subject to government imposed restrictions. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, in our comparable property portfolio, we collected 99% of contractual rents, including 5% from the application of security deposits and letters of credit. In July 2020, to date we have collected 97% of contractual rents, including 4% from the application of security deposits and letters of credit. We currently are not able to estimate the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business.

Property Operations

Leased occupancy data for 2020 and 2019 are as follows (square feet in thousands):

	All Properties				Comparable Properties(1)
	As of June 30,				As of June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Total properties	4		7		4		4
Total square feet	1,507		2,469		1,507		1,507
Percent leased(2)	90.1	%	90.5	%	90.1	%	85.7	%

(1)Based on properties owned continuously from January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, and excludes properties sold.

(2)Percent leased is the percent of space subject to signed leases. Percent leased is disclosed to quantify the ratio of leased square feet to rentable square feet and provides useful information as to the proportion of rentable square feet subject to a lease.

The lease term for the lease entered into during the three months ended June 30, 2020 was 8.0 years.  Commitments made for leasing expenditures and concessions, such as tenant improvements and leasing commissions, for the lease entered into during the three months ended June 30, 2020 totaled $1.8 million, or $80.63 per square foot on average (approximately $10.08 per square foot per year of the lease term).

As of June 30, 2020, approximately 4.8% of our leased square feet and 5.6% of our annualized rental revenue, determined as set forth below, are included in leases scheduled to expire through December 31, 2020.  Renewal and new leases and rental rates at which available space may be relet in the future will depend on prevailing market conditions at the times these leases are negotiated.  We believe that the in-place cash rents for leases expiring for the remainder of 2020, that have not been

18

backfilled, are slightly above market. Lease expirations by year, as of June 30, 2020, are as follows (square feet and dollars in thousands):

Year	Number of Tenants Expiring(1)	Leased Square Feet Expiring(2)	% of Leased Square Feet Expiring(2)		Cumulative % of Leased Square Feet Expiring(2)		Annualized Rental Revenue Expiring(3)		% of Annualized Rental Revenue Expiring		Cumulative % of Annualized Rental Revenue Expiring
2020	12	65	4.8	%	4.8	%	$	3,289	5.6	%	5.6	%
2021	21	106	7.8	%	12.6	%	4,758		8.1	%	13.7	%
2022	12	119	8.8	%	21.4	%	6,083		10.3	%	24.0	%
2023	18	215	15.8	%	37.2	%	10,404		17.6	%	41.6	%
2024	14	201	14.8	%	52.0	%	9,159		15.5	%	57.1	%
2025	12	167	12.3	%	64.3	%	5,748		9.7	%	66.8	%
2026	8	80	5.9	%	70.2	%	3,625		6.1	%	72.9	%
2027	5	97	7.2	%	77.4	%	2,811		4.8	%	77.7	%
2028	4	81	6.0	%	83.4	%	2,963		5.0	%	82.7	%
2029	5	117	8.6	%	92.0	%	5,645		9.6	%	92.3	%
Thereafter	6	108	8.0	%	100.0	%	4,536		7.7	%	100.0	%
	117	1,356	100.0	%			$	59,021	100.0	%
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):		4.9					4.7

(1)Tenants with leases expiring in multiple years are counted in each year they expire.

(2)Leased Square Feet as of June 30, 2020 includes space subject to leases that have commenced for revenue recognition purposes in accordance with GAAP, space being fitted out for occupancy pursuant to existing leases, and space which is leased but is not occupied or is being offered for sublease by tenants. The Leased Square Feet Expiring corresponds to the latest-expiring signed lease for a given suite. Thus, backfilled suites expire in the year stipulated by the new lease. 

(3)Annualized rental revenue is annualized contractual rents from our tenants pursuant to leases which have commenced as of June 30, 2020, plus estimated recurring expense reimbursements; excludes lease value amortization, straight line rent adjustments, abated (free) rent periods and parking revenue. We calculate annualized rental revenue by aggregating the recurring billings outlined above for the most recent month during the quarter reported, adding abated rent, and multiplying the sum by 12 to provide an estimation of near-term potentially-recurring revenues.  Annualized rental revenue is a forward-looking non-GAAP measure.  Annualized rental revenue cannot be reconciled to a comparable GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts, primarily due to the fact that it is calculated from the billings of tenants in the most recent month at the most recent rental rates during the quarter reported, whereas historical GAAP measures include billings from a potentially different group of tenants over multiple months at potentially different rental rates.

The principal source of funds for our operations is rents from tenants at our properties.  Rents are generally received from our tenants monthly in advance.  As of June 30, 2020, tenants representing 2.5% or more of our total annualized rental revenue were as follows (square feet in thousands):

Tenant		Square Feet(1)	% of Total Leased Square Feet(1)		% of Annualized Rental Revenue(2)		Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
1.	Equinor Energy Services, Inc.	80	5.9	%	5.8	%	3.5
2.	KPMG, LLP	71	5.2	%	5.0	%	8.9
3.	Crowdstrike, Inc.	36	2.7	%	3.5	%	4.3
4.	CBRE, Inc.	40	2.9	%	3.4	%	7.8
5.	International Dairy Foods Association(3)	23	1.7	%	2.6	%	6.0
6.	Kazoo, Inc.	26	1.9	%	2.5	%	1.6
7.	Alden Torch Financial, LLC	34	2.5	%	2.5	%	6.7
	Total	310	22.8	%	25.3	%	5.8

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(1)Total Leased Square Feet as of June 30, 2020 includes space subject to leases that have commenced, space being fitted out for occupancy pursuant to existing leases, and space which is leased but is not occupied or is being offered for sublease by tenants. 

(2)Annualized rental revenue is annualized contractual rents from our tenants pursuant to leases which have commenced as of June 30, 2020, plus estimated recurring expense reimbursements; excludes lease value amortization, straight line rent adjustments, abated (free) rent periods and parking revenue. We calculate annualized rental revenue by aggregating the recurring billings outlined above for the most recent month during the quarter reported, adding abated rent, and multiplying the sum by 12 to provide an estimation of near-term potentially-recurring revenues.  Annualized rental revenue is a forward-looking non-GAAP measure.  Annualized rental revenue cannot be reconciled to a comparable GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts, primarily due to the fact that it is calculated from the billings of tenants in the most recent month at the most recent rental rates during the quarter reported, whereas historical GAAP measures include billings from a potentially different group of tenants over multiple months at potentially different rental rates.

(3)Approximately 10,000 square feet of International Dairy Foods Association's space expires in 2034. Of the remaining 13,000 square feet, 6,500 square feet expire in 2021 and 6,500 square feet has been backfilled by other tenants until 2022.

Regulation FD Disclosures

We use any of the following to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD: press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, or our website. We routinely post important information on our website at www.eqcre.com, including information that may be deemed to be material. We encourage investors and others interested in the Company to monitor these distribution channels for material disclosures. Our website address is included in this Quarterly Report as a textual reference only and the information on the website is not incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2020, Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2019

	Comparable Properties Results(1)								Other Properties Results(2)				Consolidated Results
	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		$ Change		% Change		2020		2019		2020		2019		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Rental revenue	$	14,044	$	16,384	$	(2,340)	(14.3)	%	$	1,204	$	14,190	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	(15,326)	(50.1)	%
Other revenue	933		1,534		(601)		(39.2)	%	84		1,260		1,017		2,794		(1,777)		(63.6)	%
Operating expenses	(6,503)		(6,776)		273		(4.0)	%	(174)		(4,198)		(6,677)		(10,974)		4,297		(39.2)	%
Net operating income(3)	$	8,474	$	11,142	$	(2,668)	(23.9)	%	$	1,114	$	11,252	9,588		22,394		(12,806)		(57.2)	%
Other expenses:
Depreciation and amortization													4,398		7,561		(3,163)		(41.8)	%
General and administrative													8,302		9,533		(1,231)		(12.9)	%
Total other expenses													12,700		17,094		(4,394)		(25.7)	%
Interest and other income, net													4,443		20,695		(16,252)		(78.5)	%
Interest expense													(302)		(4,070)		3,768		(92.6)	%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													—		(6,374)		6,374		(100.0)	%
Gain on sale of properties, net													26,916		227,166		(200,250)		(88.2)	%
Income before income taxes													27,945		242,717		(214,772)		(88.5)	%
Income tax expense													(59)		(340)		281		(82.6)	%
Net income													27,886		242,377		(214,491)		(88.5)	%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest													(54)		(91)		37		(40.7)	%
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth													27,832		242,286		(214,454)		(88.5)	%
Preferred distributions													(1,997)		(1,997)		—		—	%
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders													$	25,835	$	240,289	$	(214,454)	(89.2)	%

(1)Comparable properties consist of four properties we owned continuously from April 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

(2)Other properties consist of properties sold.

(3)We define net operating income, or NOI, as income from our real estate including lease termination fees received from tenants less our property operating expenses.  NOI excludes amortization of capitalized tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions and corporate level expenses.  For a discussion of why we consider NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income as well as a reconciliation of NOI to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure under GAAP reported on our consolidated financial statements, please see "- Liquidity and Capital Resources - Property Net Operating Income (NOI)."

Rental revenue. Rental revenue decreased $15.3 million, or 50.1%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Rental revenue at the comparable properties decreased $2.3 million, or 14.3%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $2.2 million decrease in lease termination fees.

Rental revenue includes (decreases) increases for straight line rent adjustments totaling $(0.5) million in the 2020 period and $11,000 in the 2019 period, and net increases for amortization of acquired real estate leases and assumed real estate lease obligations totaling $0 in the 2020 period and $39,000 in the 2019 period. Rental revenue also includes the recognition of lease termination fees totaling $0 in the 2020 period and $2.2 million in the 2019 period.

Other revenue. Other revenue, which primarily includes parking revenue, decreased $1.8 million, or 63.6%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Other revenue decreased $0.6 million, or 39.2%, at the comparable properties in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to decreased parking revenue during the 2020 period as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses decreased $4.3 million, or 39.2%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Operating expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 4.0%, at the comparable

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properties in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $0.2 million decrease in utilities expense and a $0.1 million decrease in maintenance and repairs expense, partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in HVAC expense.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased $3.2 million, or 41.8%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period primarily due to properties sold in 2020 and 2019.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased $1.2 million, or 12.9%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $0.9 million decrease in compensation expenses related to severance, a $0.1 million decrease in payroll expenses as a result of a staffing reduction and a $0.1 million decrease in share-based compensation expense.

Interest and other income, net. Interest and other income, net decreased $16.3 million, or 78.5% in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to $16.2 million less interest received from lower average interest rates.

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $3.8 million, or 92.6%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the redemption in June 2019 of all $250 million of our 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2020 and a decrease in amortization of a discount and amortization of deferred financing fees.

Loss on early extinguishment of debt. The loss on early extinguishment of debt of $6.4 million in the 2019 period reflects the write off of unamortized deferred financing fees, the write off of an unamortized discount and prepayment fees related to the redemption of all $250 million of our 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2020.

Gain on sale of properties, net. Gain on sale of properties, net decreased $200.3 million, or 88.2%, in the 2020 period, as compared to the 2019 period. Gain on sale of properties, net in the 2020 period related to the following (dollars in thousands):

Asset	Gain on Sale, Net
Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings	$	24,916
Research Park(1)	2,000
	$	26,916

(1)There was consideration of $2.0 million being held in escrow related to the sale of this property in 2019. In June 2020, these proceeds were released to the Company, and we recorded an additional $2.0 million gain on the sale for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Gain on sale of properties, net in the 2019 period primarily related to the following (dollars in thousands):

Asset	Gain on Sale, Net
600 108th Avenue NE	$	149,009
Research Park	78,158
	$	227,167

Income tax expense. Income tax expense decreased $0.3 million, or 82.6%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a decrease in state and local taxes as a result of the sale of properties.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. In 2017 through 2020, we granted LTIP Units to certain of our trustees and employees. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest decreased $37,000, or 40.7% in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a decrease in net income, partially offset by the measurement of LTIP Units in the 2020 period.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2020, Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

	Comparable Properties Results(1)								Other Properties Results(2)				Consolidated Results
	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		$ Change		% Change		2020		2019		2020		2019		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Rental revenue	$	28,130	$	30,499	$	(2,369)	(7.8)	%	$	4,261	$	38,965	$	32,391	$	69,464	$	(37,073)	(53.4)	%
Other revenue	2,466		2,963		(497)		(16.8)	%	228		2,693		2,694		5,656		(2,962)		(52.4)	%
Operating expenses	(13,371)		(13,257)		(114)		0.9	%	(2,067)		(13,497)		(15,438)		(26,754)		11,316		(42.3)	%
Net operating income(3)	$	17,225	$	20,205	$	(2,980)	(14.7)	%	$	2,422	$	28,161	19,647		48,366		(28,719)		(59.4)	%
Other expenses:
Depreciation and amortization													9,512		16,146		(6,634)		(41.1)	%
General and administrative													18,906		21,629		(2,723)		(12.6)	%
Total other expenses													28,418		37,775		(9,357)		(24.8)	%
Interest and other income, net													16,338		38,470		(22,132)		(57.5)	%
Interest expense													(611)		(8,276)		7,665		(92.6)	%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt													—		(6,374)		6,374		(100.0)	%
Gain on sale of properties, net													446,536		420,203		26,333		6.3	%
Income before income taxes													453,492		454,614		(1,122)		(0.2)	%
Income tax expense													(99)		(1,640)		1,541		(94.0)	%
Net income													453,393		452,974		419		0.1	%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests													(802)		(170)		(632)		371.8	%
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth													452,591		452,804		(213)		—	%
Preferred distributions													(3,994)		(3,994)		—		—	%
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders													$	448,597	$	448,810	$	(213)	—	%

(1)Comparable properties consist of four properties we owned continuously from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

(2)Other properties consist of properties sold.

(3)We define net operating income, or NOI, as income from our real estate including lease termination fees received from tenants less our property operating expenses.  NOI excludes amortization of capitalized tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions and corporate level expenses.  For a discussion of why we consider NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income as well as a reconciliation of NOI to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure under GAAP reported on our consolidated financial statements, please see the section entitled “- Liquidity and Capital Resources - Property Net Operating Income (NOI).”

Rental revenue. Rental revenue decreased $37.1 million, or 53.4%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Rental revenue at the comparable properties decreased $2.4 million, or 7.8%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $2.2 million decrease in lease termination fees.

Rental revenue includes (decreases) increases for straight line rent adjustments totaling $(0.7) million in the 2020 period and $0.8 million in the 2019 period, and net increases for amortization of assumed real estate lease obligations totaling $0 in the 2020 period and $0.1 million in the 2019 period. Rental revenue also includes the recognition of lease termination fees totaling $0 in the 2020 period and $2.2 million in the 2019 period.

Other revenue. Other revenue, which primarily includes parking revenue, decreased $3.0 million, or 52.4%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Other revenue decreased $0.5 million, or 16.8%, at the comparable properties in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to decreased parking revenue during the 2020 period as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses decreased $11.3 million, or 42.3%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019. Operating expenses increased $0.1 million, or 0.9%, at the comparable properties in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $0.2 million increase in HVAC expense and a

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$0.1 million increase in salaries and benefits expense, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in utilities expense and a $0.1 million decrease in maintenance and repairs expense.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased $6.6 million, or 41.1%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the properties sold in 2020 and 2019.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased $2.7 million, or 12.6%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a $3.1 million decrease in compensation expenses related to severance, a $0.6 million decrease in payroll expenses as a result of a staffing reduction and a $0.3 million decrease in share-based compensation expense, partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in state franchise taxes largely related to property sales.

Interest and other income, net. Interest and other income, net decreased $22.1 million, or 57.5%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to $21.0 million less interest received from lower average interest rates.

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $7.7 million, or 92.6%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the redemption in June 2019 of all $250 million of our 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2020 and a decrease in amortization of a discount and amortization of deferred financing fees.

Loss on early extinguishment of debt. The loss on early extinguishment of debt of $6.4 million in the 2019 period reflects the write off of unamortized deferred financing fees, the write off of an unamortized discount and prepayment fees related to the redemption of all $250 million of our 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2020.

Gain on sale of properties, net. Gain on sale of properties, net increased $26.3 million, or 6.3%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period. Gain on sale of properties, net in the 2020 period primarily related to the following (dollars in thousands):

Asset	Gain on Sale, Net
109 Brookline Avenue	$	225,190
333 108th Avenue NE	194,424
Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings	24,916
Research Park(1)	2,000
	$	446,530

(1)There was consideration of $2.0 million being held in escrow related to the sale of this property in 2019. In June 2020, these proceeds were released to the Company, and we recorded an additional $2.0 million gain on the sale for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Gain on sale of properties, net in the 2019 period primarily related to the following (dollars in thousands):

Asset	Gain on Sale, Net
1735 Market Street	$	192,985
600 108th Avenue NE	149,009
Research Park	78,158
	$	420,152

Income tax expense. Income tax expense decreased $1.5 million, or 94.0%, in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to a decrease in state and local taxes as a result of the sale of properties.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. In 2017 through 2020, we granted LTIP Units to certain of our trustees and employees. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest increased $0.6 million, or 371.8% in the 2020 period, compared to the 2019 period, primarily due to the measurement of LTIP Units in the 2020 period.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our Operating Liquidity and Resources

As of June 30, 2020, we had $3.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents.  We expect to use our cash balances, cash flow from our operations and proceeds of any future property sales to fund our operations, make distributions, repurchase our common shares, make acquisitions and/or investments in properties or businesses, fund tenant improvements and leasing costs and for other general business purposes.  We believe our cash balances and the cash flow from our operations will be sufficient to fund our ordinary course activities.

Our future cash flows from operating activities will depend on our ability to collect rent from our current tenants under their leases. Our ability to collect rent in the near term may be adversely impacted by the market disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. We cannot predict the ultimate impact of the pandemic on our results of operations.

Our future cash flows from operating activities will also depend upon our:

•ability to maintain or improve the occupancy of, and the rental rates at, our properties;

•ability to control operating and financing expense increases at our properties; and

•ability to purchase additional properties, which produce rents, less property operating expenses, in excess of our costs of acquisition capital.

In addition, our cash flows will depend in part on interest income earned on our invested cash balances.

Volatility in energy costs and real estate taxes may cause our future operating expenses to fluctuate; however, the impact of these fluctuations is expected to be partially offset by the pass through of operating expenses to our tenants pursuant to lease terms, although there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully offset these expenses or that doing so would not negatively impact our competitive position or business. 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities were $23.2 million, $652.1 million and $(34.1) million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and $41.2 million, $1.0 billion and $(266.2) million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2019.  Changes in these three categories of our cash flows between 2020 and 2019 are primarily related to a decrease in property net operating income (as a result of property dispositions), a decrease in interest income (as a result of lower average interest rates in 2020), a decrease in real estate improvements, dispositions of properties, proceeds from maturities of marketable securities, repayments of debt and repurchase of our common shares.

Our Investment and Financing Liquidity and Resources

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we paid an aggregate of $4.0 million of distributions on our series D preferred shares.  On July 8, 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a dividend of $0.40625 per series D preferred share, which will be paid on August 17, 2020 to shareholders of record on July 29, 2020.

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we repurchased 711,000 of our common shares under the March 2019 Authorization, at a weighted average price of $29.31 per share, for a total investment of $20.8 million. On March 10, 2020, our Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $150.0 million of our outstanding common shares over the twelve months following the date of authorization, none of which has been utilized.

25

Our outstanding debt maturity and interest rate as of June 30, 2020, were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Scheduled Principal Payments During Period
Year	Secured Fixed Rate Debt(1)		Interest Rate(2)
2020	$	303	5.69	%
2021	24,836		5.69	%
Thereafter	—		—	%
	$	25,139	5.69	%

(1)Total debt outstanding as of June 30, 2020, including net unamortized premiums and net unamortized deferred financing costs, was $25.3 million, all of which is related to a mortgage on our building at 206 East 9th Street. As of July 5, 2020, we repaid this mortgage debt at par for $25.1 million.

(2)Contractual interest rate.

For further information about our indebtedness, see Note 4 to the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

We may utilize various types of financings, including debt or equity, to fund future acquisitions and/or investments. Although we are not currently rated by the debt rating agencies, the completion and the costs of any future debt transactions will depend primarily upon market conditions and our credit ratings at such time, if any. We have no control over market conditions. Any credit ratings will depend upon evaluations by credit rating agencies of our business practices and plans and, in particular, whether we appear to have the ability to maintain our earnings, to space our debt maturities and to balance our use of debt and equity capital so that our financial performance and leverage ratios afford us flexibility to withstand any reasonably foreseeable adverse changes. We intend to conduct our business activities in a manner which will continue to afford us reasonable access to capital for investment and financing activities. However, there can be no assurance regarding our ability to complete any debt or equity offerings or that our cost of any future public or private financings will not increase.

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold three properties with a combined 1.0 million square feet for an aggregate gross sale price of $756.5 million.  For more information regarding these transactions, see Note 3 to the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, amounts capitalized at our properties, including properties sold, for tenant improvements, leasing costs and building improvements were as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Tenant improvements(1)	$	2,448	$	2,491	$	3,325	$	4,941
Leasing costs(2)	299		374		1,245		1,217
Building improvements(3)	611		2,328		962		3,584

(1)Tenant improvements include capital expenditures to improve tenants’ space.

(2)Leasing costs include leasing commissions and related legal expenses.

(3)Building improvements generally include expenditures to replace obsolete building components and expenditures that extend the useful life of existing assets. Tenant-funded capital expenditures are excluded.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, commitments made for expenditures in connection with leasing space at our properties, excluding leasing activity for assets during the quarter in which the asset was sold, were as follows (dollar and square foot measures in thousands):

	New Leases		Renewals		Total
Square feet leased during the period	22		—		22
Tenant improvements and leasing commissions	$	1,774	$	—	$	1,774
Tenant improvements and leasing commissions per square foot	$	80.63	$	—	$	80.63
Weighted average lease term by square foot (years)(1)	8.0		—		8.0
Tenant improvements and leasing commissions per square foot per year	$	10.08	$	—	$	10.08

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(1)For renewal lease terms, if the existing rents of an original lease term are modified, the new term starts at the rent modification date. Weighted average lease term generally excludes renewal options.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of June 30, 2020, we had no off balance sheet arrangements that have had or that we expect would be reasonably likely to have a future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. 

Funds from Operations (FFO) and Normalized FFO

We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or Nareit. Nareit defines FFO as net income (loss), calculated in accordance with GAAP, excluding real estate depreciation and amortization, gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable property, impairment of depreciable real estate, and our portion of these items related to equity investees and non-controlling interests.  Our calculation of Normalized FFO differs from Nareit’s definition of FFO because we exclude certain items that we view as nonrecurring or impacting comparability from period to period.  We consider FFO and Normalized FFO to be appropriate measures of operating performance for a REIT, along with net income, net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities.

We believe that FFO and Normalized FFO provide useful information to investors because by excluding the effects of certain historical amounts, such as depreciation expense, FFO and Normalized FFO may facilitate a comparison of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs.  FFO and Normalized FFO do not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders or cash flow from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, or as indicators of our financial performance or liquidity, nor are these measures necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our needs.  These measures should be considered in conjunction with net income, net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities as presented in our condensed consolidated statements of operations, condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.  Other REITs and real estate companies may calculate FFO and Normalized FFO differently than we do.

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The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and unitholders and a calculation to Normalized FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and unitholders (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Reconciliation to FFO:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Real estate depreciation and amortization	4,174		7,283		9,055		15,560
Gain on sale of properties, net	(26,916)		(227,166)		(446,536)		(420,203)
FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth	5,144		22,494		15,912		48,331
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		(1,997)		(3,994)		(3,994)
FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and unitholders	$	3,147	$	20,497	$	11,918	$	44,337
Reconciliation to Normalized FFO:
FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and unitholders	$	3,147	$	20,497	$	11,918	$	44,337
Lease value amortization	—		(39)		—		(78)
Straight line rent adjustments	515		(11)		713		(848)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—		6,374		—		6,374
Taxes related to property sales included in general and administrative	10		—		1,458		—
Taxes related to property sales, net included in income tax expense	44		415		79		565
Normalized FFO attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and unitholders	$	3,716	$	27,236	$	14,168	$	50,350

Property Net Operating Income (NOI)

We use property net operating income, or NOI, to evaluate the performance of our properties. We define NOI as income from our real estate including lease termination fees received from tenants less our property operating expenses. NOI excludes amortization of capitalized tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions and corporate level expenses.

The following table includes the reconciliation of NOI to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure under GAAP reported in our consolidated financial statements.  We consider NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it may help to understand the operations of our properties.  We use NOI internally to evaluate property level performance, and we believe that NOI provides useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because it reflects only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level and may facilitate comparisons of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs.  NOI does not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders or cash flow from operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of our financial performance or liquidity, nor is this measure necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our needs.  This measure should be considered in conjunction with net income, net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders and cash flow from operating activities as presented in our consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows.  Other REITs and real estate companies may calculate NOI differently than we do. 

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A reconciliation of NOI to net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Rental revenue	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	32,391	$	69,464
Other revenue	1,017		2,794		2,694		5,656
Operating expenses	(6,677)		(10,974)		(15,438)		(26,754)
NOI	$	9,588	$	22,394	$	19,647	$	48,366
NOI	$	9,588	$	22,394	$	19,647	$	48,366
Depreciation and amortization	(4,398)		(7,561)		(9,512)		(16,146)
General and administrative	(8,302)		(9,533)		(18,906)		(21,629)
Interest and other income, net	4,443		20,695		16,338		38,470
Interest expense	(302)		(4,070)		(611)		(8,276)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—		(6,374)		—		(6,374)
Gain on sale of properties, net	26,916		227,166		446,536		420,203
Income before income taxes	27,945		242,717		453,492		454,614
Income tax expense	(59)		(340)		(99)		(1,640)
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974

Related Person Transactions

For information about our related person transactions, see Note 12 to the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Company’s market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, in our Annual Report.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15. Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

29

PART II.  Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We are or may become a party to various legal proceedings. We are not currently involved in any litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any litigation threatened against us where the outcome would, in our judgment based on information currently available to us, have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The risk factors relating to or impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak that were previously disclosed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020 contained certain financial-related information which has been updated for the three months ended June 30, 2020 in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Form 10-Q.

Other than as set forth above, there have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

Not applicable.

30

Item 6.  Exhibits.

Exhibit  Number	Description
3.1	Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Declaration of Trust of the Company, dated July 1, 1994, as amended to date. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2014.)
3.2	Articles Supplementary, dated October 10, 2006. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 11, 2006.)
3.3	Articles Supplementary, dated May 31, 2011. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 31, 2011.)
3.4	Articles Supplementary, dated March 14, 2018. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 15, 2018.)
3.5	Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, adopted April 2, 2020. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2020.)
4.1	Form of Common Share Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.)
4.2	Form of 6 1/2% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Share Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.)
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a) Certification. (Filed herewith.)
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a) Certification. (Filed herewith.)
32.1	Section 1350 Certification. (Furnished herewith.)
101	The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) related notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail. (Filed herewith.)
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

31

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
By:	/s/ David A. Helfand
	David A. Helfand
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	Dated:	July 30, 2020
By:	/s/ Adam S. Markman
	Adam S. Markman
	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
	Dated:	July 30, 2020

32

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

I, David A. Helfand, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Equity Commonwealth;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	July 30, 2020	/s/ David A. Helfand
		David A. Helfand
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

I, Adam S. Markman, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Equity Commonwealth;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	July 30, 2020	/s/Adam S. Markman
		Adam S. Markman
		Executive Vice President, Chief
		Financial Officer and Treasurer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350

In connection with the filing by Equity Commonwealth (the “Company”) of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2020 (the “Report”), each of the undersigned hereby certifies, to the best of his knowledge:

1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ David A. Helfand		/s/ Adam S. Markman
David A. Helfand		Adam S. Markman
President and Chief Executive Officer		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
		and Treasurer
Date:	July 30, 2020

XML

Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 24, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-9317
Entity Registrant Name	EQUITY COMMONWEALTH
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-6558834
Entity Address, Address Line One	Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 2100
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60606
City Area Code	(312)
Local Phone Number	646-2800
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		121,521,624
Entity Central Index Key	0000803649
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Trading Symbol	EQC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.50% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.50% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest
Trading Symbol	EQCpD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Real estate properties:
Land	$ 44,060	$ 85,627
Buildings and improvements	353,665	576,494
Total real estate properties, at cost, gross	397,725	662,121
Accumulated depreciation	(139,061)	(202,700)
Total real estate properties, at cost, net	258,664	459,421
Cash and cash equivalents	3,437,775	2,795,642
Restricted cash	4,103	5,003
Rents receivable	13,968	19,554
Other assets, net	18,645	39,757
Total assets	3,733,155	3,319,377
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Mortgage notes payable, net	25,281	25,691
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	25,821	37,153
Rent collected in advance	2,521	3,127
Distributions payable	5,791	7,534
Total liabilities	59,414	73,505
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized; Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible; 4,915,196 shares issued and outstanding, aggregate liquidation preference of $122,880	119,263	119,263
Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value: 350,000,000 shares authorized; 121,521,624 and 121,924,199 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	1,215	1,219
Additional paid in capital	4,288,245	4,313,831
Cumulative net income	3,816,245	3,363,654
Cumulative common distributions	(3,852,856)	(3,851,666)
Cumulative preferred distributions	(705,718)	(701,724)
Total shareholders’ equity	3,666,394	3,244,577
Noncontrolling interest	7,347	1,295
Total equity	3,673,741	3,245,872
Total liabilities and equity	$ 3,733,155	$ 3,319,377

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, shares authorized (in shares)	50,000,000	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred shares, dividend percentage	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
Preferred shares of beneficial interest, shares issued (in shares)	4,915,196	4,915,196	4,915,196
Preferred shares, of beneficial interest, shares outstanding (in shares)	4,915,196	4,915,196	4,915,196
Preferred shares, aggregate liquidation preference	$ 122,880	$ 122,880	$ 122,880
Common shares of beneficial interest, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common shares of beneficial interest, shares authorized (in shares)	350,000,000	350,000,000	350,000,000
Common shares of beneficial interest, shares issued (in shares)	121,521,624	121,521,624	121,924,199
Common shares of beneficial interest, shares outstanding (in shares)	121,521,624	121,521,624	121,924,199

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Rental revenue	$ 15,248	$ 30,574	$ 32,391	$ 69,464
Other revenue	1,017	2,794	2,694	5,656
Total revenues	16,265	33,368	35,085	75,120
Expenses:
Operating expenses	6,677	10,974	15,438	26,754
Depreciation and amortization	4,398	7,561	9,512	16,146
General and administrative	8,302	9,533	18,906	21,629
Total expenses	19,377	28,068	43,856	64,529
Interest and other income, net	4,443	20,695	16,338	38,470
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees of $(60), $154, $(116) and $319, respectively)	(302)	(4,070)	(611)	(8,276)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	(6,374)	0	(6,374)
Gain on sale of properties, net	26,916	227,166	446,536	420,203
Income before income taxes	27,945	242,717	453,492	454,614
Income tax expense	(59)	(340)	(99)	(1,640)
Net income	27,886	242,377	453,393	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)	(91)	(802)	(170)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth	27,832	242,286	452,591	452,804
Preferred distributions	(1,997)	(1,997)	(3,994)	(3,994)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders	$ 25,835	$ 240,289	$ 448,597	$ 448,810
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic (in shares)	121,655	122,122	121,901	122,041
Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted (in shares)	123,255	125,862	126,358	125,841
Earnings per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 1.97	$ 3.68	$ 3.68
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 1.93	$ 3.58	$ 3.60

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees	$ (60)	$ 154	$ (116)	$ 319

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 27,886	$ 242,377	$ 453,393	$ 452,974
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0	0	0	342
Total comprehensive income	27,886	242,377	453,393	453,316
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(54)	(91)	(802)	(170)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Equity Commonwealth	$ 27,832	$ 242,286	$ 452,591	$ 453,146

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Series D Preferred Shares	Common Shares	Additional Paid in Capital	Cumulative Net Income	Cumulative Common Distributions	Cumulative Preferred Distributions	Cumulative Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		4,915,196	121,572,155
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 3,183,998	$ 119,263	$ 1,216	$ 4,305,974	$ 2,870,974	$ (3,420,548)	$ (693,736)	$ (342)	$ 1,197
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	452,974				452,804				170
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	342							342
Surrender of shares for tax withholding (in shares)			(168,327)
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	(5,487)		$ (2)	(5,485)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			518,292
Share-based compensation	7,648		$ 5	6,978					665
Distributions	(3,852)					142	(3,994)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest				582					(582)
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		4,915,196	121,922,120
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	3,635,623	$ 119,263	$ 1,219	4,308,049	3,323,778	(3,420,406)	(697,730)	0	1,450
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		4,915,196	121,899,625
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019	3,391,561	$ 119,263	$ 1,219	4,304,560	3,081,492	(3,420,512)	(695,733)	0	1,272
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	242,377				242,286				91
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0
Surrender of shares for tax withholding (in shares)			(4,414)
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	(145)			(145)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			26,909
Share-based compensation	3,721			3,393					328
Distributions	(1,891)					106	(1,997)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest				241					(241)
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		4,915,196	121,922,120
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	3,635,623	$ 119,263	$ 1,219	4,308,049	3,323,778	(3,420,406)	(697,730)	$ 0	1,450
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		4,915,196	121,924,199
Balance as of beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	3,245,872	$ 119,263	$ 1,219	4,313,831	3,363,654	(3,851,666)	(701,724)		1,295
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	453,393				452,591				802
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0
Repurchase of shares (in shares)			(711,000)
Repurchase of shares	(20,869)		$ (7)	(20,862)
Surrender of shares for tax withholding (in shares)			(183,466)
Surrender of shares for tax withholding	(6,012)		$ (2)	(6,010)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			491,891
Share-based compensation	6,571		$ 5	5,859					707
Contributions	1								1
Distributions	(5,184)					(1,190)	(3,994)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(31)								(31)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest				(4,573)					4,573
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		4,915,196	121,521,624
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	3,673,741	$ 119,263	$ 1,215	4,288,245	3,816,245	(3,852,856)	(705,718)		7,347
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		4,915,196	121,502,520
Balance as of beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020	3,644,614	$ 119,263	$ 1,215	4,285,266	3,788,413	(3,852,856)	(703,721)		7,034
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	27,886				27,832				54
Unrealized gain on marketable securities	0
Share-based compensation (in shares)			19,104
Share-based compensation	3,268			2,906					362
Contributions	1								1
Distributions	(1,997)					0	(1,997)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(31)								(31)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest				73					(73)
Balance as of end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		4,915,196	121,521,624
Balance as of end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 3,673,741	$ 119,263	$ 1,215	$ 4,288,245	$ 3,816,245	$ (3,852,856)	$ (705,718)		$ 7,347

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 453,393	$ 452,974
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	8,105	13,531
Net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees	(116)	319
Straight line rental income	713	(848)
Amortization of acquired real estate leases	0	105
Other amortization	1,407	2,375
Amortization of right-of-use asset	379	364
Share-based compensation	6,571	7,648
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	6,374
Net gain on sale of properties	(446,536)	(420,203)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Rents receivable and other assets	515	(8,036)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other	(576)	(11,179)
Rent collected in advance	(606)	(2,183)
Net cash provided by operating activities	23,249	41,241
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Real estate improvements	(2,937)	(18,073)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	655,053	771,787
Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities	0	250,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	652,116	1,003,714
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchase and retirement of common shares	(26,881)	(5,487)
Payments on borrowings	(294)	(255,557)
Contributions from holders of noncontrolling interest	1	0
Distributions to common shareholders	(1,936)	(1,160)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(3,994)	(3,994)
Distributions to holders of noncontrolling interest	(997)	0
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(31)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(34,132)	(266,198)
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	641,233	778,757
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	2,800,645	2,404,101
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	3,441,878	3,182,858
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid	732	12,291
Taxes (refunded) paid, net	(1,555)	2,873
NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Recognition of right-of-use asset and lease liability	0	1,503
Accrued capital expenditures	2,733	3,992
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows	$ 3,441,878	$ 3,182,858

XML

Business

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Business

Business

Equity Commonwealth, or the Company, is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, formed in 1986 under the laws of the State of Maryland. Our business is primarily the ownership and operation of office properties in the United States.

On November 10, 2016, the Company converted to what is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust, or UPREIT. In connection with this conversion, the Company contributed substantially all of its assets to EQC Operating Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or the Operating Trust, and the Operating Trust assumed substantially all of the Company’s liabilities pursuant to a contribution and assignment agreement between the Company and the Operating Trust.

Since that time, the Company has conducted and intends to continue to conduct substantially all of its activities through the Operating Trust. The Company beneficially owned 99.8% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest, designated as units, in the Operating Trust, or OP Units, as of June 30, 2020, and the Company is the sole trustee of the Operating Trust.  As the sole trustee, the Company generally has the power under the declaration of trust of the Operating Trust to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Trust, subject to certain limited approval and voting rights of other holders of OP Units.

At June 30, 2020, our portfolio consisted of four properties (eight buildings), with a combined 1.5 million square feet. As of June 30, 2020, we had $3.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of EQC have been prepared without audit.  Certain information and footnote disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  We believe the disclosures made are appropriate.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, or our Annual Report, for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Capitalized terms used, but not defined in this Quarterly Report, have the same meanings as in our Annual Report.

In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included.  All intercompany transactions and balances with or among our subsidiaries have been eliminated.  Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates in the condensed consolidated financial statements include the assessment of the collectability of rental revenue, purchase price allocations, useful lives of fixed assets and impairment of real estate and intangible assets.

Share amounts are presented in whole numbers, except where noted.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC 820. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires more timely recognition of credit losses associated with financial assets. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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Real Estate Properties

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Real Estate [Abstract]

Real Estate Properties

Real Estate Properties

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we made improvements, excluding tenant-funded improvements, to our properties totaling $4.3 million and $8.5 million, respectively.

Property Dispositions:

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold the following properties, which did not represent strategic shifts under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
109 Brookline Avenue	February 2020	1	1	285,556	$	270,000	$	225,190
333 108th Avenue NE(2)	March 2020	1	1	435,406	401,500		194,424
Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings	May 2020	1	2	240,475	85,000		24,916
		3	4	961,437	$	756,500	$	444,530

(1)Gross sale price is before credits, primarily for contractual lease costs, and transfer taxes.

(2)The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $28,000 and $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $193.2 million, of which $194.4 million related to the gain on sale, and $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we sold the following properties, which did not represent a strategic shift under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
1735 Market Street(2)	March 2019	1	1	1,286,936	$	451,600	$	192,985
600 108th Avenue NE(3)	April 2019	1	1	254,510	195,000		149,009
Research Park(4)	June 2019	1	4	1,110,007	165,500		78,158
		3	6	2,651,453	$	812,100	$	420,152

(1)Gross sale price is before credits for capital costs, contractual lease costs and rent abatements.

(2)Certain of our subsidiaries sold 100.0% of the equity interests in the fee simple owner of this property. The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $0.1 million and $197.2 million (of which $193.0 million related to the gain on sale) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.

(3)The property includes an office building and additional developmental rights.

(4)There was consideration of $2.0 million being held in escrow related to the sale of this property in 2019. In June 2020, these proceeds were released to the Company, and we recorded an additional $2.0 million gain on the sale for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

Lease Payments

The FASB has issued additional guidance for companies to account for any COVID-19 related rent concessions in the form of FASB staff and board members’ remarks at the April 8, 2020 public meeting and the FASB staff question-and-answer document issued on April 10, 2020. We have elected the practical expedient to account for COVID-19 related rent concessions as if they were part of the enforceable rights and obligations of the parties under the existing lease contract. This policy has been elected for our lessor portfolio for any rent deferrals, and we have elected to treat the related leases as if they are unchanged. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, we deferred collection of approximately $42,000 of rental income on revenue that was recognized in the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Rental revenue consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Lease payments	$	9,983	$	20,429	$	21,753	$	48,334
Variable lease payments	5,265		10,145		10,638		21,130
Rental revenue	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	32,391	$	69,464

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Indebtedness

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Indebtedness

Indebtedness

Mortgage Note Payable:

At June 30, 2020, one of our properties with an aggregate net book value of $42.8 million had a secured mortgage note totaling $25.3 million (including a net premium and unamortized deferred financing fees) maturing in 2021. As of July 5, 2020, we repaid this mortgage debt at par (see Note 13).

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Shareholders' Equity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Common Share Issuances:

See Note 8 for information regarding equity issuances related to share-based compensation.

Common Share Repurchases:

On March 13, 2019, our Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of our outstanding common shares over the twelve months following the date of authorization, or the March 2019 Authorization. In March 2020, this share repurchase authorization, of which $129.2 million was not utilized, expired. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we repurchased 711,000 of our common shares under the March 2019 Authorization, at a weighted average price of $29.31 per share, for a total investment of $20.8 million. On March 10, 2020, our Board of Trustees authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $150.0 million of our outstanding common shares over the twelve months following the date of authorization, none of which has been utilized.

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, certain of our employees surrendered 183,466 and 168,327 common shares owned by them, respectively, to satisfy their statutory tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of such common shares pursuant to our equity compensation plans.

Common Share and Unit Distribution:

In February 2020, the number of earned awards for certain recipients of the Company’s restricted stock units and market-based LTIP Units was determined. Pursuant to the terms of such awards, we paid a one-time catch-up cash distribution to these recipients in the aggregate amount of $2.9 million for distributions to common shareholders and unitholders declared by our Board of Trustees during such awards' performance measurement period.

Preferred Share Distributions:

In 2020, our Board of Trustees declared distributions on our series D preferred shares to date as follows:

Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Series D Dividend Per Share
January 10, 2020	January 30, 2020	February 18, 2020	$	0.40625
April 9, 2020	April 29, 2020	May 15, 2020	$	0.40625
July 8, 2020	July 29, 2020	August 17, 2020	$	0.40625

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Noncontrolling Interest

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest represents the portion of the OP Units not beneficially owned by the Company. The ownership of an OP Unit and a common share of beneficial interest have essentially the same economic characteristics. Distributions with respect to OP Units will generally mirror distributions with respect to the Company’s common shares. Unitholders (other than the Company) generally have the right, commencing six months from the date of issuance of such OP Units, to cause the Operating Trust to redeem their OP Units in exchange for cash or, at the option of the Company, common shares of the Company on a one-for-one basis. As sole trustee, the Company has the sole discretion to elect whether the redemption right will be satisfied by the Company in cash or the Company’s common shares. As a result, the Noncontrolling interest is classified as permanent equity. As of June 30, 2020, the portion of the Operating Trust not beneficially owned by the Company is in the form of OP Units and LTIP Units (see Note 8 for a description of LTIP Units). LTIP Units may be subject to additional vesting requirements.

The following table presents the changes in Equity Commonwealth’s issued and outstanding common shares and units for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

	Common Shares	OP Units and LTIP Units	Total
Outstanding at January 1, 2020	121,924,199	48,660	121,972,859
Repurchase of shares	(894,466)	—	(894,466)
OP Unit redemption	—	(1,000)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures	491,891	195,856	687,747
Outstanding at June 30, 2020	121,521,624	243,516	121,765,140
Noncontrolling ownership interest in the Operating Trust			0.20	%

The carrying value of the Noncontrolling interest is allocated based on the number of OP Units and LTIP Units in proportion to the number of OP Units and LTIP Units plus the number of common shares. We adjust the Noncontrolling interest balance at the end of each period to reflect the noncontrolling partners’ interest in the net assets of the Operating Trust. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling interest in the Operating Trust based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period. Equity Commonwealth’s weighted average ownership interest in the Operating Trust was 99.81% and 99.84% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

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Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and are generally not subject to federal and state income taxes provided we distribute a sufficient amount of our taxable income to our shareholders and meet other requirements for qualifying as a REIT.  However, we are subject to certain state and local taxes without regard to our REIT status.

Our provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Current:
State and local	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(640)
Deferred:
State and local	—		—		—		(1,000)
Income tax expense	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(1,640)

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Share-Based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

Recipients of the Company’s restricted shares have the same voting rights as any other common shareholder. During the period of restriction, holders of unvested restricted shares are eligible to receive dividend payments on their shares at the same rate and on the same date as any other common shareholder.  The restricted shares are service based awards and vest over a four-year period.

Recipients of the Company’s restricted stock units, or RSUs, are entitled to receive dividends with respect to the common shares underlying the RSUs if and when the RSUs are earned, at which time the recipient will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of cash dividends that would have been paid in respect of the common shares underlying the recipient’s earned RSUs had such common shares been issued to the recipient on the first day of the performance period. To the extent that an award does not vest, the dividends related to unvested RSUs will be forfeited. The RSUs are market-based awards with a service condition and recipients may earn RSUs based on the Company’s total shareholder return, or TSR, relative to the TSRs of the companies that comprise the Nareit Office Index over a three-year performance period. Following the end of the three-year performance period, the number of earned awards will be determined. The earned awards vest in two tranches with 50% of the earned award vesting following the end of the performance period on the date the Compensation Committee of our Board of Trustees, or the Committee, determines the level of achievement of the performance metric and the remaining 50% of the earned award vesting approximately one year thereafter, subject to the grant recipient’s continued employment. Compensation expense for the RSUs is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model and is recognized ratably from the grant date to the vesting date of each tranche.

LTIP Units are a class of beneficial interests in the Operating Trust that may be issued to employees, officers or trustees of the Operating Trust, the Company or their subsidiaries. Time-based LTIP Units have the same general characteristics as restricted shares and market-based LTIP Units have the same general characteristics as RSUs. Each LTIP Unit will convert automatically into an OP Unit on a one-for-one basis when the LTIP Unit becomes vested and its capital account is equalized with the per-unit capital account of the OP Units. Holders of LTIP Units generally will be entitled to receive the same per-unit distributions as the other outstanding OP Units in the Operating Trust, except that market-based LTIP Units will not participate in distributions until expiration of the applicable performance period, at which time any earned market-based LTIP Units generally will become entitled to receive a catch-up distribution for the periods prior to such time.

2020 Equity Award Activity

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, 387,729 RSUs vested, and, as a result, we issued 387,729 common shares, prior to certain employees surrendering their common shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations (see Note 5).

On June 23, 2020, in accordance with the Company’s compensation plan for independent Trustees, the Committee awarded each of the nine independent Trustees $0.1 million in restricted shares or time-based LTIP Units as part of their compensation for the 2020-2021 year of service on the Board of Trustees. These awards equated to 3,184 shares or time-based LTIP Units per Trustee, for a total of 19,104 shares and 9,552 time-based LTIP Units, valued at $31.41 per share and unit, the closing price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, on that day. These shares and time-based LTIP Units vest one year after the date of the award.

On January 27, 2020, the Committee approved grants in the aggregate amount of 20,116 time-based LTIP Units, 40,841 market-based LTIP Units at target (101,796 market-based LTIP Units at maximum), 85,058 restricted shares and 172,697 RSUs at target (430,447 RSUs at maximum) to the Company’s officers, certain employees, an eligible consultant and to Mr. Zell, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees, as part of their compensation for fiscal year 2019. The restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units were valued at $32.81 per share and per unit, the closing price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the grant date. The assumptions and fair value for the RSUs and market-based LTIP Units granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 are included in the following table on a per share and per unit basis.

	2020
Fair value of market-based awards granted	$	40.17
Expected term (years)	4
Expected volatility	12.39		%
Risk-free rate	1.41		%

2019 Equity Award Activity

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, 382,413 RSUs vested, and, as a result, we issued 382,413 common shares, prior to certain employees surrendering their common shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

On June 20, 2019, in accordance with the Company’s compensation plan for independent Trustees, the Committee awarded each of the nine independent Trustees $0.1 million in restricted shares or time-based LTIP Units as part of their compensation for the 2019-2020 year of service on the Board of Trustees. These awards equated to 2,940 shares or time-based LTIP Units per Trustee, for a total of 23,520 shares and 2,940 time-based LTIP Units, valued at $34.01 per share and unit, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE on that day. These shares and time-based LTIP Units vest one year after the date of the award.

On January 29, 2019, the Committee approved grants in the aggregate amount of 112,359 restricted shares and 228,128 RSUs at target (568,609 RSUs at maximum) to the Company’s officers, certain employees and to Mr. Zell, the Chairman of our Board of Trustees, as part of their compensation for fiscal year 2018. The restricted shares were valued at $31.77 per share, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE on the grant date. The RSUs were valued at $39.65 per share, their fair value on the grant date.

Outstanding Equity Awards

As of June 30, 2020, the estimated future compensation expense for all unvested restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units was $8.1 million. Compensation expense for the restricted share and time-based LTIP Unit awards is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. The weighted average period over which the future compensation expense will be recorded for the restricted shares and time-based LTIP units is approximately 2.5 years.

As of June 30, 2020, the estimated future compensation expense for all unvested RSUs and market-based LTIP Units was $15.9 million. The weighted average period over which the future compensation expense will be recorded for the RSUs and market-based LTIP Units is approximately 2.4 years.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded $3.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded $6.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively, of compensation expense, net of forfeitures, in general and administrative expense for grants to our trustees and employees related to our equity compensation plans. Compensation expense recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 includes $0.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and compensation expense recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 includes $18,000 and $0.8 million, respectively, of accelerated vesting due to staffing reductions. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. At June 30, 2020, 2,291,799 shares/units remain available for issuance under the Equity Commonwealth 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended.

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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

As of June 30, 2020, we do not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value.

Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and mortgage note payable.  At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value of these additional financial instruments was not materially different from their carrying values, except as follows (in thousands):

	June 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Principal Balance		Fair Value		Principal Balance		Fair Value
Mortgage note payable	$	25,139	$	25,139	$	25,433	$	26,071

Other financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of rents receivable. As of June 30, 2020, no single tenant of ours is responsible for more than 5.0% of our consolidated revenues.

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Earnings Per Common Share

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Numerator for earnings per common share - basic:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		(1,997)		(3,994)		(3,994)
Numerator for net income per share - basic	$	25,835	$	240,289	$	448,597	$	448,810
Numerator for earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		—		—		—
Numerator for net income per share - diluted	$	25,835	$	242,286	$	452,591	$	452,804
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic(1)	121,655		122,122		121,901		122,041
RSUs(2)	1,524		1,005		1,524		1,064
LTIP Units(3)	76		172		76		173
Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	—		2,563		2,857		2,563
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	123,255		125,862		126,358		125,841
Net income per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic	$	0.21	$	1.97	$	3.68	$	3.68
Diluted	$	0.21	$	1.93	$	3.58	$	3.60
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	2,857		—		—		—
Effect of LTIP Units	124		32		107		34
Effect of OP Units(5)	110		14		92		12

(1) The three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 150 and 220 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively, and the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 164 and 203 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively.

(2) Represents weighted-average number of common shares that would have been issued if the quarter-end was the measurement date for unvested, unearned RSUs.

(3) Represents the weighted-average dilutive shares issuable from LTIP Units if the quarter-end was the measurement date for the periods shown.

(4) The Series D preferred shares are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three months ended June 30, 2020 because including the Series D preferred shares would also require that the preferred distributions be added back to net income, resulting in anti-dilution.

(5) Beneficial interests in the Operating Trust.

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Segment Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information Our primary business is the ownership and operation of office properties, and we currently have one reportable segment.  One hundred percent of our revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were from office properties.

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Related Person Transactions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Person Transactions

Related Person Transactions

The following discussion includes a description of our related person transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership: We have a lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership, an entity associated with Mr. Zell, our Chairman, to occupy office space on the twentieth and twenty-first floors of Two North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, Illinois (20th/21st Floor Office Lease), which had an initial term of approximately five years. The 20th/21st Floor Office Lease expires December 31, 2020. We made improvements to the office space utilizing the $0.7 million tenant improvement allowance pursuant to the lease. In connection with the 20th/21st Floor Office Lease, we also have a storage lease with Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership for storage space in the basement of Two North Riverside Plaza. The storage lease expires December 31, 2020; however, each party has the right to terminate on 30 days’ prior written notice. During the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recognized expense of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we recognized expense of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, pursuant to the 20^th/21^st Floor Office Lease and the related storage space.

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Subsequent Events

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

As of July 5, 2020, we repaid at par $25.1 million of mortgage debt at 206 East 9th Street.

On July 8, 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a dividend of $0.40625 per series D preferred share, which will be paid on August 17, 2020 to shareholders of record on July 29, 2020.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of EQC have been prepared without audit.  Certain information and footnote disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  We believe the disclosures made are appropriate.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, or our Annual Report, for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Capitalized terms used, but not defined in this Quarterly Report, have the same meanings as in our Annual Report.

In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included.  All intercompany transactions and balances with or among our subsidiaries have been eliminated.  Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates in the condensed consolidated financial statements include the assessment of the collectability of rental revenue, purchase price allocations, useful lives of fixed assets and impairment of real estate and intangible assets.

Share amounts are presented in whole numbers, except where noted.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC 820. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires more timely recognition of credit losses associated with financial assets. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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Real Estate Properties (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Real Estate [Abstract]

Summary of Properties Sold and Income Statement Information for Properties Disposed of

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we sold the following properties, which did not represent strategic shifts under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
109 Brookline Avenue	February 2020	1	1	285,556	$	270,000	$	225,190
333 108th Avenue NE(2)	March 2020	1	1	435,406	401,500		194,424
Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings	May 2020	1	2	240,475	85,000		24,916
		3	4	961,437	$	756,500	$	444,530

(1)Gross sale price is before credits, primarily for contractual lease costs, and transfer taxes.

(2)The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $28,000 and $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $193.2 million, of which $194.4 million related to the gain on sale, and $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we sold the following properties, which did not represent a strategic shift under ASC Topic 205 (dollars in thousands):

Property	Date Sold	Number of Properties	Number of Buildings	Square Footage	Gross Sale Price(1)		Gain on Sale
1735 Market Street(2)	March 2019	1	1	1,286,936	$	451,600	$	192,985
600 108th Avenue NE(3)	April 2019	1	1	254,510	195,000		149,009
Research Park(4)	June 2019	1	4	1,110,007	165,500		78,158
		3	6	2,651,453	$	812,100	$	420,152

(1)Gross sale price is before credits for capital costs, contractual lease costs and rent abatements.

(2)Certain of our subsidiaries sold 100.0% of the equity interests in the fee simple owner of this property. The sale represents an individually significant disposition. The operating results of this property are included in continuing operations for all periods presented through the date of sale. Net income related to this property was $0.1 million and $197.2 million (of which $193.0 million related to the gain on sale) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.

(3)The property includes an office building and additional developmental rights.

(4)There was consideration of $2.0 million being held in escrow related to the sale of this property in 2019. In June 2020, these proceeds were released to the Company, and we recorded an additional $2.0 million gain on the sale for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

Schedule of Rental Revenue

Rental revenue consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Lease payments	$	9,983	$	20,429	$	21,753	$	48,334
Variable lease payments	5,265		10,145		10,638		21,130
Rental revenue	$	15,248	$	30,574	$	32,391	$	69,464

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Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Declared Distributions

In 2020, our Board of Trustees declared distributions on our series D preferred shares to date as follows:

Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Series D Dividend Per Share
January 10, 2020	January 30, 2020	February 18, 2020	$	0.40625
April 9, 2020	April 29, 2020	May 15, 2020	$	0.40625
July 8, 2020	July 29, 2020	August 17, 2020	$	0.40625

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Noncontrolling Interest (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Schedule of Issued and Outstanding Common Shares

The following table presents the changes in Equity Commonwealth’s issued and outstanding common shares and units for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

	Common Shares	OP Units and LTIP Units	Total
Outstanding at January 1, 2020	121,924,199	48,660	121,972,859
Repurchase of shares	(894,466)	—	(894,466)
OP Unit redemption	—	(1,000)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures	491,891	195,856	687,747
Outstanding at June 30, 2020	121,521,624	243,516	121,765,140
Noncontrolling ownership interest in the Operating Trust			0.20	%

Schedule of Issued and Outstanding Units

The following table presents the changes in Equity Commonwealth’s issued and outstanding common shares and units for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

	Common Shares	OP Units and LTIP Units	Total
Outstanding at January 1, 2020	121,924,199	48,660	121,972,859
Repurchase of shares	(894,466)	—	(894,466)
OP Unit redemption	—	(1,000)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures	491,891	195,856	687,747
Outstanding at June 30, 2020	121,521,624	243,516	121,765,140
Noncontrolling ownership interest in the Operating Trust			0.20	%

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Income Taxes (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Provision for Income Taxes

Our provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Current:
State and local	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(640)
Deferred:
State and local	—		—		—		(1,000)
Income tax expense	$	(59)	$	(340)	$	(99)	$	(1,640)

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Share-Based Compensation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Summary of Assumptions and Fair Values for RSUs Granted in the Period

The assumptions and fair value for the RSUs and market-based LTIP Units granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 are included in the following table on a per share and per unit basis.

	2020
Fair value of market-based awards granted	$	40.17
Expected term (years)	4
Expected volatility	12.39		%
Risk-free rate	1.41		%

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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value and Carrying Value of Financial Instruments

At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value of these additional financial instruments was not materially different from their carrying values, except as follows (in thousands):

	June 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Principal Balance		Fair Value		Principal Balance		Fair Value
Mortgage note payable	$	25,139	$	25,139	$	25,433	$	26,071

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Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Numerator for earnings per common share - basic:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		(1,997)		(3,994)		(3,994)
Numerator for net income per share - basic	$	25,835	$	240,289	$	448,597	$	448,810
Numerator for earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income	$	27,886	$	242,377	$	453,393	$	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54)		(91)		(802)		(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)		—		—		—
Numerator for net income per share - diluted	$	25,835	$	242,286	$	452,591	$	452,804
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic(1)	121,655		122,122		121,901		122,041
RSUs(2)	1,524		1,005		1,524		1,064
LTIP Units(3)	76		172		76		173
Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	—		2,563		2,857		2,563
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	123,255		125,862		126,358		125,841
Net income per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic	$	0.21	$	1.97	$	3.68	$	3.68
Diluted	$	0.21	$	1.93	$	3.58	$	3.60
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of Series D preferred shares; 6.50% cumulative convertible(4)	2,857		—		—		—
Effect of LTIP Units	124		32		107		34
Effect of OP Units(5)	110		14		92		12

(1) The three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 150 and 220 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively, and the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, include 164 and 203 weighted-average, unvested, earned RSUs, respectively.

(2) Represents weighted-average number of common shares that would have been issued if the quarter-end was the measurement date for unvested, unearned RSUs.

(3) Represents the weighted-average dilutive shares issuable from LTIP Units if the quarter-end was the measurement date for the periods shown.

(4) The Series D preferred shares are excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three months ended June 30, 2020 because including the Series D preferred shares would also require that the preferred distributions be added back to net income, resulting in anti-dilution.

(5) Beneficial interests in the Operating Trust.

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Business (Details) $ in Thousands, ft² in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) ft² building property	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents | $	$ 3,437,775	$ 2,795,642	$ 3,180,548
Consolidated Properties
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties | property	4
Number of buildings | building	8
Square footage (in sqft) | ft²	1.5
Operating Trust
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	99.80%

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Real Estate Properties - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Real Estate [Abstract]
Real estate improvements		$ 4,300	$ 8,500
COVID-19
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Deferred collection of rental income	$ 42

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Real Estate Properties - Summary of Properties Sold (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020 USD ($) ft² property building	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) ft² property building	Feb. 29, 2020 USD ($) ft² building property	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) ft² property building	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($) ft² building property	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) ft² building property	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) ft² building property	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) ft² property building	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Gain on Sale							$ 26,916	$ 227,166	$ 446,536	$ 420,203
Disposed of by Sale
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property									3	3
Number of Buildings | building									4	6
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²									961,437	2,651,453
Gross Sale Price									$ 756,500	$ 812,100
Gain on Sale									444,530	420,152
Disposed of by Sale | 109 Brookline Avenue
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property			1
Number of Buildings | building			1
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²			285,556
Gross Sale Price			$ 270,000
Gain on Sale			$ 225,190
Disposed of by Sale | 333 108th Avenue NE
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property		1
Number of Buildings | building		1
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²		435,406
Gross Sale Price		$ 401,500
Gain on Sale		$ 194,424							194,400
Net income included in continued operations							$ 28	3,700	$ 193,200	7,300
Disposed of by Sale | Georgetown-Green and Harris Buildings
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property	1
Number of Buildings | building	2
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²	240,475
Gross Sale Price	$ 85,000
Gain on Sale	$ 24,916
Disposed of by Sale | 1735 Market Street
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property						1
Number of Buildings | building						1
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²						1,286,936
Gross Sale Price						$ 451,600
Gain on Sale						$ 192,985				193,000
Net income included in continued operations								$ 100		$ 197,200
Percentage of equity interests in fee simple owner sold							100.00%		100.00%
Disposed of by Sale | 600 108th Avenue NE
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property					1
Number of Buildings | building					1
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²					254,510
Gross Sale Price					$ 195,000
Gain on Sale					$ 149,009
Disposed of by Sale | Research Park
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Number of Properties | property				1
Number of Buildings | building				4
Square Footage (in sqft) | ft²				1,110,007
Gross Sale Price				$ 165,500
Gain on Sale				$ 78,158
Consideration held in escrow											$ 2,000
Additional gain on sale of properties, release of escrow deposits							$ 2,000		$ 2,000

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Real Estate Properties - Rental Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Real Estate [Abstract]
Lease payments	$ 9,983	$ 20,429	$ 21,753	$ 48,334
Variable lease payments	5,265	10,145	10,638	21,130
Rental revenue	$ 15,248	$ 30,574	$ 32,391	$ 69,464

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Indebtedness (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Real estate properties, net	$ 258,664	$ 459,421
Mortgage notes payable, net	$ 25,281	$ 25,691
Mortgage notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of real estate properties secured by mortgage | property	1
Real estate properties, net	$ 42,800
Mortgage notes payable, net	$ 25,300

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Shareholders' Equity - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 10, 2020	Mar. 13, 2019	Feb. 29, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Repurchase of shares				$ 20,869,000
Common stock, cash dividends paid			$ 2,900,000
Common Shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Surrender of shares for tax withholding (in shares)				183,466	168,327
Share Repurchase Program, March 13, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, period in force		12 months
Repurchase of shares				$ 20,800,000
Share Repurchase Program, March 13, 2019 | Common Shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount (up to)		$ 150,000,000.0
Stock repurchase program, amount expired						$ 129,200,000
Repurchase of shares (in shares)				711,000
Average cost per share (in dollars per share)				$ 29.31
Share Repurchase Program, March 10, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, period in force	12 months
Share Repurchase Program, March 10, 2020 | Common Shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount (up to)	$ 150,000,000.0

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Shareholders' Equity - Schedule of Declared Distributions (Details) - $ / shares	Aug. 17, 2020	Jul. 08, 2020	May 15, 2020	Apr. 09, 2020	Feb. 18, 2020	Jan. 10, 2020
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)				$ 0.40625		$ 0.40625
Dividend paid (in dollars per share)			$ 0.40625		$ 0.40625
Subsequent event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.40625
Subsequent event | Scenario, Forecast
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividend paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40625

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Noncontrolling Interest - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Common stock, conversion term		6 months
Common stock, conversion basis		1
Operating Trust
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, weighted average ownership percentage by parent	99.81%	99.84%

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Noncontrolling Interest - Common Shares and Units Activity (Details) - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Equity Commonwealth
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	0.20%
Common Shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares)	121,924,199
Repurchase of shares (in shares)	(894,466)
OP Unit Redemption (in shares)	0
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures (in shares)	491,891
Balance as of end of period (in shares)	121,521,624
OP Units and LTIP Units | Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares)	48,660
Repurchase of shares (in shares)	0
OP Unit Redemption (in shares)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures (in shares)	195,856
Balance as of end of period (in shares)	243,516
Common Stock, OP Units, and LTIP Units
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Balance as of beginning of period (in shares)	121,972,859
Repurchase of shares (in shares)	(894,466)
OP Unit Redemption (in shares)	(1,000)
Share-based compensation grants and vesting, net of forfeitures (in shares)	687,747
Balance as of end of period (in shares)	121,765,140

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Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Current:
State and local	$ (59)	$ (340)	$ (99)	$ (640)
Deferred:
State and local	0	0	0	(1,000)
Income tax expense	$ (59)	$ (340)	$ (99)	$ (1,640)

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Share-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 23, 2020 USD ($) trustee $ / shares shares	Jan. 27, 2020 $ / shares shares	Jun. 20, 2019 USD ($) trustee $ / shares shares	Jan. 29, 2019 $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) tranche $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2019 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock issued (in shares)					121,521,624		121,521,624		121,924,199
Compensation expense, accelerated vesting due to a staffing reduction | $					$ 0	$ 300	$ 18	$ 800
Common shares available for issuance (in shares)					2,291,799		2,291,799
General and Administrative Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense | $					$ 3,300	$ 3,700	$ 6,600	$ 7,600
Restricted shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period							4 years
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)	19,104	85,058	23,520	112,359
Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 31.77
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period							3 years
Number of tranches | tranche							2
Share-based compensation arrangement (in shares)							387,729	382,413
Common stock issued (in shares)					387,729	382,413	387,729	382,413
Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 39.65
RSUs | Vesting in three years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percent							50.00%
RSUs | Vesting in four years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period							1 year
Vesting percent							50.00%
RSUs at target
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)		172,697		228,128
RSUs at maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)		430,447		568,609
LTIP Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Conversion basis					1		1
Time-based LTIP Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)	9,552	20,116	2,940
Market-based LTIP Units, at target
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)		40,841
Market-based LTIP Units, at maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)		101,796
Restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	1 year		1 year
Number of trustees in board of trustees | trustee	9		9
Stock issued during period, value | $	$ 100		$ 100
Number of equity awards granted (in shares)	3,184		2,940
Granted shares value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 32.81					$ 40.17
Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 31.41		$ 34.01
Estimated future compensation expense for unvested shares | $					$ 8,100		$ 8,100
Weighted average period over which compensation expense will be recorded							2 years 6 months
RSUs and market-based LTIP units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Estimated future compensation expense for unvested shares | $					$ 15,900		$ 15,900
Weighted average period over which compensation expense will be recorded							2 years 4 months 24 days

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Share-Based Compensation - Summary of Assumptions and Fair Values for Restricted Stock Units Granted in the Period (Details) - Restricted shares and time-based LTIP Units - $ / shares		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Fair value of RSUs granted (in dollars per share)	$ 32.81	$ 40.17
Expected term		4 years
Expected volatility		12.39%
Risk-free rate		1.41%

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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities - Narrative (Details)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value, net asset (liability)	$ 0

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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Fair Value and Carrying Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Principal Balance
Fair value of financial instruments
Mortgage note payable	$ 25,139	$ 25,433
Fair Value
Fair value of financial instruments
Mortgage note payable	$ 25,139	$ 26,071

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Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Numerator for earnings per common share - basic:
Net income	$ 27,886	$ 242,377	$ 453,393	$ 452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(54)	(91)	(802)	(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)	(1,997)	(3,994)	(3,994)
Net income attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders	25,835	240,289	448,597	448,810
Numerator for earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income	27,886	242,377	453,393	452,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(54)	(91)	(802)	(170)
Preferred distributions	(1,997)	0	0	0
Numerator for net income per share - diluted	$ 25,835	$ 242,286	$ 452,591	$ 452,804
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic (in shares)	121,655	122,122	121,901	122,041
Series D preferred shares; 6 1/2% cumulative convertible (in shares)	0	2,563	2,857	2,563
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted (in shares)	123,255	125,862	126,358	125,841
Net income per common share attributable to Equity Commonwealth common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 1.97	$ 3.68	$ 3.68
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 1.93	$ 3.58	$ 3.60
Anti-dilutive securities:
Preferred shares, dividend percentage	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
Weighted average number of shares, restricted stock units, unvested (in shares)	150	220	164	203
6.50% Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	2,857	0	0	0
LTIP Units
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	124	32	107	34
OP Units
Anti-dilutive securities:
Effect of anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	110	14	92	12
RSUs
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, dilutive adjustment (in shares)	1,524	1,005	1,524	1,064
LTIP Units
Denominator for earnings per common share - basic and diluted:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, dilutive adjustment (in shares)	76	172	76	173

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Segment Information (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	1
Percentage of revenue from office properties	100.00%

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Related Person Transactions (Details) - Two North Riverside Plaza Joint Venture Limited Partnership - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease term	5 years		5 years
Tenant improvements	$ 0.7		$ 0.7
Lease termination period term			30 days
Operating lease, expense	$ 0.2	$ 0.3	$ 0.5	$ 0.5

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Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Aug. 17, 2020	Jul. 08, 2020	Jul. 05, 2020	May 15, 2020	Apr. 09, 2020	Feb. 18, 2020	Jan. 10, 2020
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)					$ 0.40625		$ 0.40625
Dividend paid (in dollars per share)				$ 0.40625		$ 0.40625
Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.40625
Subsequent event | 206 East 9th Street | Mortgage notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt repaid, at par			$ 25.1
Scenario, Forecast | Subsequent event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividend paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40625