Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets:
Land	$ 682,429	$ 686,359
Buildings and improvements, less accumulated depreciation of $997,350 and $972,531 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	3,129,993	3,154,001
Intangible lease assets, less accumulated amortization of $69,997 and $71,588 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	69,144	73,359
Construction in progress	28,847	24,269
Real estate assets held for sale, net	13,939	13,995
Total real estate assets	3,924,352	3,951,983
Investments in and amounts due from unconsolidated joint ventures	13,855	14,388
Cash and cash equivalents	9,271	6,973
Tenant receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $273 and $346 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	22,196	31,145
Straight-line rent receivables	147,360	138,293
Restricted cash and escrows	751	394
Prepaid expenses and other assets	28,154	24,771
Goodwill	180,097	180,097
Interest rate swaps	464	24,176
Deferred financing costs, less accumulated amortization of $4,506 and $13,041 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	8,545	8,759
Deferred lease costs, less accumulated amortization of $123,582 and $125,882 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	273,709	281,790
Other assets held for sale, net	3,191	3,319
Total assets	4,611,945	4,666,088
Liabilities:
Unsecured debt, net of discount of $4,703 and $1,320 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	1,617,297	1,014,680
Secured debt	412,525	987,525
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and accrued capital expenditures	130,530	128,818
Deferred income	23,042	22,267
Intangible lease liabilities, less accumulated amortization of $44,462 and $44,256 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	45,227	47,113
Interest rate swaps	4,366	4,526
Total liabilities	2,232,987	2,204,929
Commitments and Contingencies	0	0
Stockholders’ Equity:
Shares-in-trust, 150,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding as of March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013	0	0
Preferred stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding as of March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 750,000,000 shares authorized; 154,277,930 and 157,460,903 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	1,543	1,575
Additional paid-in capital	3,669,561	3,668,906
Cumulative distributions in excess of earnings	(1,305,321)	(1,231,209)
Other comprehensive income	11,562	20,278
Piedmont stockholders’ equity	2,377,345	2,459,550
Noncontrolling interest	1,613	1,609
Total stockholders’ equity	2,378,958	2,461,159
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 4,611,945	$ 4,666,088