Investments In and Advances To Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Income Statements:
Rental and other revenues	$ 12,423		$ 12,845	$ 24,654	$ 25,278
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	6,031		6,236	11,698	12,439
Depreciation and amortization	3,110		3,328	6,225	6,817
Interest expense	2,032		2,301	4,181	4,512
Total expenses	11,173		11,865	22,104	23,768
Income before disposition of property	1,250		980	2,550	1,510
Gains on disposition of property	16,054		0	18,181	1,949
Net income	$ 17,304		$ 980	$ 20,731	$ 3,459
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	50.00%			50.00%
Joint venture partner's interest (in hundredths)	50.00%			50.00%
SF-Harborview Plaza, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum (in hundredths)	20.00%			20.00%
Term of debt instrument	3 years
Advances to affiliate loan amount	$ 20,800			$ 20,800
Maturity date of advance to affiliate	Sep. 11, 2015
Joint venture partner's interest (in hundredths)	80.00%			80.00%
Term of put option right (in years)	1 year
Advance to affiliate, variable interest rate basis	LIBOR plus 500 basis points
Advance to affiliate, interest rate (in hundredths)	5.00%
Advance to affiliate, minimum interest rate (in hundredths)	0.50%
Highwoods DLF 98/29, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property	$ 13,700
Our share of gains on disposition of property	3,100
Highwoods KC Glenridge Office, LLC Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property	$ 2,400
Number of buildings sold | property	2			2
Proceeds received from disposition of property	$ 24,500
Closing credits for unfunded tenant improvements	300
Our share of gains on disposition of property	$ 900
Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP Joint Venture [Member]
Expenses:
Gains on disposition of property		$ 2,100
Proceeds received from disposition of property		7,000
Our share of gains on disposition of property		$ 1,100