Investments In Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Board of Trade Investment Company [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Board of Trade Investment Company [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	$ 12,425,000	$ 16,911,000	$ 37,703,000	$ 64,362,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	6,441,000	8,733,000	18,880,000	31,681,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,281,000	5,010,000	10,098,000	17,383,000
Impairments of real estate assets	0	15,287,000	0	20,077,000
Interest expense	2,201,000	3,141,000	6,713,000	12,569,000
Total expenses	11,923,000	32,171,000	35,691,000	81,710,000
Income/(loss) before disposition of properties	502,000	(15,260,000)	2,012,000	(17,348,000)
Gains on disposition of properties	0	8,256,000	1,949,000	8,323,000		1,900,000
Net income/(loss)	502,000	(7,004,000)	3,961,000	(9,025,000)
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	50.00%		50.00%		49.00%
Proceeds received from disposition of property						8,300,000
Gains on disposition of properties	0	8,256,000	1,949,000	8,323,000		1,900,000
Net impairment charge on our investment in unconsolidated affiliates						400,000
Receivable related to redemption of investment in unconsolidated affiliate					4,700,000
Repayment of debt at maturity							$ 14,900,000
Current interest rate (in hundredths)							4.84%