Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Land	$ 675,281	$ 627,351
Buildings and improvements, less accumulated depreciation of $955,480 and $877,644 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	3,049,905	2,891,323
Intangible lease assets, less accumulated amortization of $70,744 and $67,940 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	66,870	54,744
Construction in progress	61,162	20,373
Real estate assets held for sale, net	19,734	18,941
Total real estate assets	3,872,952	3,612,732
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	18,668	37,226
Cash and cash equivalents	15,972	12,957
Tenant receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $306 and $346 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	31,006	25,038
Straight-line rent receivables	135,487	121,506
Due from unconsolidated joint ventures	0	463
Restricted cash and escrows	385	334
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17,610	13,022
Goodwill	180,097	180,097
Interest rate swaps	19,192	1,075
Deferred financing costs, less accumulated amortization of $12,365 and $10,479 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	7,990	6,454
Deferred lease costs, less accumulated amortization of $129,998 and $112,496 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	275,234	243,178
Other assets held for sale, net	1,960	793
Total assets	4,576,553	4,254,875
Liabilities:
Unsecured debt	835,650	429,000
Secured debt	987,525	987,525
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and accrued capital expenditures	159,675	127,263
Deferred income	26,575	21,552
Intangible lease liabilities, less accumulated amortization of $43,322 and $40,931 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	41,435	40,805
Interest rate swaps	5,010	8,235
Total liabilities	2,055,870	1,614,380
Commitments and Contingencies	0	0
Stockholders’ Equity:
Shares-in-trust, 150,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding as of September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012	0	0
Preferred stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding as of September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2012	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 750,000,000 shares authorized; 161,270,766 and 167,556,001 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	1,613	1,676
Additional paid-in capital	3,668,424	3,667,051
Cumulative distributions in excess of earnings	(1,165,794)	(1,022,681)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	14,827	(7,160)
Piedmont stockholders’ equity	2,519,070	2,638,886
Noncontrolling interest	1,613	1,609
Total stockholders’ equity	2,520,683	2,640,495
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 4,576,553	$ 4,254,875