8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):    December 6, 2011

COMMONWEALTH REIT

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland	1-9317	04-6558834
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts	02458-1634
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

617-332-3990

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

On December 6, 2011, CommonWealth REIT, or the Company, issued a press release announcing that it will redeem all of its outstanding 6.95% Senior Notes due 2012 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of $150,680,000, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. This redemption is expected to occur on January 3, 2012. A Copy of the Company’s press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.

The Company hereby furnishes the following exhibit:

99.1Press Release dated December 6, 2011.

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

COMMONWEALTH REIT
By:	/s/ John C. Popeo
Name:	John C. Popeo
Title:	Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  December 9, 2011

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	Contacts:
	Timothy A. Bonang, Vice President, Investor Relations, or
	Carlynn Finn, Senior Manager, Investor Relations
	(617) 796-8222
	www.cwhreit.com

CommonWealth REIT Announces Redemption of 6.95% Senior Notes Due in 2012

Newton, MA (December 6, 2011): CommonWealth REIT (NYSE: CWH) today announced that it will redeem all of its outstanding 6.95% Senior Notes due 2012 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of $150,680,000, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. This redemption is expected to occur on January 3, 2012. CWH expects to fund this redemption by borrowing on its revolving credit facility.

Commonwealth REIT is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, which primarily owns office and industrial properties located throughout the United States, including approximately 17 million sq. ft. of leased industrial lands in Oahu, HI, plus a portfolio of office and industrial properties in Australia.  CWH is headquartered in Newton, MA.

(END)

A Maryland Real Estate Trust with transferable shares of beneficial interest listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  No shareholder, Trustee or officer is personally liable for any act or obligation of the Trust.