CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Rental income	$ 172,040	$ 211,300
Tenant reimbursements and other income	45,220	51,312
Total revenues	217,260	262,612
Expenses:
Operating expenses	101,731	104,130
Depreciation and amortization	51,649	62,570
General and administrative	24,848	16,663
Reversal of loss on asset impairment	(4,761)
Acquisition related costs	5	628
Total expenses	173,472	183,991
Operating income	43,788	78,621
Interest and other income	384	455
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees of ($309) and $608, respectively)	(37,935)	(51,896)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(60,027)
Gain on sale of equity investment		66,293
Gain on issuance of shares by an equity investee	109
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense and equity in earnings of investees	6,346	33,446
Income tax expense	(555)	(988)
Equity in earnings of investees	10,934	4,262
Income from continuing operations	16,725	36,720
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	4,011	(6)
Loss on asset impairment from discontinued operations	(288)	(3,946)
Gain on sale of properties from discontinued operations		1,260
Income before gain on sale of properties	20,448	34,028
Gain on sale of properties		1,596
Net income	20,448	35,624
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary		(9,957)
Net income attributable to CommonWealth REIT	20,448	25,667
Preferred distributions	(11,151)	(11,151)
Net income available for CommonWealth REIT common shareholders	9,297	14,516
Amounts attributable to CommonWealth REIT common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations	5,574	17,208
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	4,011	(6)
Loss on asset impairment from discontinued operations	(288)	(3,946)
Gain on sale of properties from discontinued operations		1,260
Net income available for CommonWealth REIT common shareholders	$ 9,297	$ 14,516
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	118,400	94,154
Basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to CommonWealth REIT common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.18
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.03)
Net income available for common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.15