| 
           Information by Business Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified 
         | 
        3 Months Ended | 
        6 Months Ended | 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           Jun. 30, 2014
 
          segment 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2013 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2014
 
          segment 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2013 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013 
         | 
      
      
        | Segment Reporting [Abstract] | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Number of primary office property segments | 
        10
 | 
         
 | 
        10
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        $ 115,964
 | 
        $ 125,275
 | 
        $ 240,860
 | 
        $ 247,352
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        43,856
 | 
        44,654
 | 
        93,608
 | 
        88,720
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        72,108
 | 
        80,621
 | 
        147,252
 | 
        158,632
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        14,096
 | 
        11,782
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        35,385
 | 
        23,162
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        3,709,500
 | 
        3,699,635
 | 
        3,709,500
 | 
        3,699,635
 | 
        3,629,952
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Operating Segment Total 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
        240,860
 | 
        247,352
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
        93,608
 | 
        88,720
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
        147,252
 | 
        158,632
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
        27,825
 | 
        17,636
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
        92,325
 | 
        154,758
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        2,951,299
 | 
        3,048,562
 | 
        2,951,299
 | 
        3,048,562
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Baltimore and Washington Corridor 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        57,456
 | 
        59,640
 | 
        118,569
 | 
        118,300
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        19,348
 | 
        19,728
 | 
        42,945
 | 
        39,781
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        38,108
 | 
        39,912
 | 
        75,624
 | 
        78,519
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        6,289
 | 
        4,120
 | 
        12,030
 | 
        6,880
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        20,712
 | 
        6,087
 | 
        27,623
 | 
        29,084
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        1,259,974
 | 
        1,271,384
 | 
        1,259,974
 | 
        1,271,384
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Northern Virginia 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        20,898
 | 
        22,988
 | 
        45,866
 | 
        45,930
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        7,651
 | 
        8,204
 | 
        16,624
 | 
        16,021
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        13,247
 | 
        14,784
 | 
        29,242
 | 
        29,909
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        4,805
 | 
        2,696
 | 
        8,300
 | 
        4,240
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        683
 | 
        1,015
 | 
        27,271
 | 
        10,854
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        634,834
 | 
        571,851
 | 
        634,834
 | 
        571,851
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           San Antonio 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        8,758
 | 
        8,364
 | 
        17,237
 | 
        16,121
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        4,817
 | 
        4,478
 | 
        9,291
 | 
        8,366
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        3,941
 | 
        3,886
 | 
        7,946
 | 
        7,755
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        0
 | 
        7
 | 
        (6)
 | 
        17
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        117,328
 | 
        118,827
 | 
        117,328
 | 
        118,827
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Huntsville 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        2,404
 | 
        1,359
 | 
        4,959
 | 
        2,099
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        859
 | 
        310
 | 
        1,512
 | 
        492
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        1,545
 | 
        1,049
 | 
        3,447
 | 
        1,607
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        334
 | 
        3,497
 | 
        2,841
 | 
        3,497
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        223
 | 
        (3,283)
 | 
        20,325
 | 
        20,957
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        97,838
 | 
        51,663
 | 
        97,838
 | 
        51,663
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Washington, DC - Capitol Riverfront 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        3,831
 | 
        4,177
 | 
        7,465
 | 
        8,421
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        1,754
 | 
        1,874
 | 
        3,519
 | 
        3,823
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        2,077
 | 
        2,303
 | 
        3,946
 | 
        4,598
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        478
 | 
        241
 | 
        541
 | 
        398
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
        0
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        97,136
 | 
        101,476
 | 
        97,136
 | 
        101,476
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           St. Mary's and King George Counties 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        4,202
 | 
        4,093
 | 
        8,518
 | 
        8,085
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        1,289
 | 
        1,223
 | 
        2,793
 | 
        2,416
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        2,913
 | 
        2,870
 | 
        5,725
 | 
        5,669
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        943
 | 
        729
 | 
        1,782
 | 
        1,004
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        0
 | 
        6
 | 
        0
 | 
        12
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        95,553
 | 
        97,084
 | 
        95,553
 | 
        97,084
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Greater Baltimore 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        11,024
 | 
        10,824
 | 
        22,520
 | 
        21,543
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        4,500
 | 
        4,097
 | 
        9,976
 | 
        8,265
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        6,524
 | 
        6,727
 | 
        12,544
 | 
        13,278
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        1,242
 | 
        (648)
 | 
        2,254
 | 
        54
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        2,953
 | 
        (9)
 | 
        3,027
 | 
        104
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        300,139
 | 
        313,788
 | 
        300,139
 | 
        313,788
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Greater Philadelphia 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        2,366
 | 
        2,784
 | 
        5,706
 | 
        5,271
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        1,144
 | 
        720
 | 
        2,444
 | 
        1,558
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        1,222
 | 
        2,064
 | 
        3,262
 | 
        3,713
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        88
 | 
        285
 | 
        99
 | 
        285
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        10,198
 | 
        17,567
 | 
        13,374
 | 
        24,617
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        104,436
 | 
        102,098
 | 
        104,436
 | 
        102,098
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Colorado Springs 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        (12)
 | 
        6,469
 | 
        6
 | 
        13,151
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        11
 | 
        2,185
 | 
        2
 | 
        4,622
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        (23)
 | 
        4,284
 | 
        4
 | 
        8,529
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        0
 | 
        595
 | 
        0
 | 
        910
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        19
 | 
        896
 | 
        30
 | 
        2,679
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        0
 | 
        171,745
 | 
        0
 | 
        171,745
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Other 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        2,545
 | 
        2,560
 | 
        5,121
 | 
        5,061
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        602
 | 
        317
 | 
        933
 | 
        542
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        1,943
 | 
        2,243
 | 
        4,188
 | 
        4,519
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        (93)
 | 
        84
 | 
        (38)
 | 
        175
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        0
 | 
        2
 | 
        0
 | 
        2
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        78,918
 | 
        81,334
 | 
        78,918
 | 
        81,334
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | 
           Wholesale Data Center 
         | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment financial information for real estate operations | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Revenues from real estate operations | 
        2,492
 | 
        2,017
 | 
        4,893
 | 
        3,370
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Property operating expenses | 
        1,881
 | 
        1,518
 | 
        3,569
 | 
        2,834
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | NOI from real estate operations | 
        611
 | 
        499
 | 
        1,324
 | 
        536
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Additions to long-lived assets | 
        10
 | 
        176
 | 
        22
 | 
        176
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Transfers from non-operating properties | 
        597
 | 
        881
 | 
        675
 | 
        66,449
 | 
         
 | 
      
      
        | Segment assets | 
        $ 165,143
 | 
        $ 167,312
 | 
        $ 165,143
 | 
        $ 167,312
 | 
         
 |