Photo by Steve Adams | Banker & Tradesman Staff

Columbia Threadneedle Investments has signed a lease for a new headquarters in downtown Boston, but plans to shrink its footprint even as it bucks the predicted trend among the city’s office tenants.

The firm plans to begin moving into its new office at 290 Congress St. on Atlantic Wharf in the summer of 2021, following the expiration of its current lease.

The company said its new location will be more modern and efficient, and will be built out to its specific need for a “flexible and adaptable” environment that will “help foster the collaboration that is central to the firm’s culture.” The office building that currently houses its offices, Oxford Properties’ 225 Franklin St. features smaller floorplates than 290 Congress, which is owned by Boston Properties. The Boston Business Journal reported that the company is shrinking its space needs from 156,000 square feet to 82,000 square feet.

“Our new office at 290 Congress St. will provide our employees and our business with the kind of modern, engaging and efficient space that will allow us to develop the optimal work environment for the future. We’re excited to welcome employees to this dynamic new space as they continue returning to the office in 2021,” Scott Couto, Columbia Threadneedle’s lead for North America, said in a statement. “Also, importantly, we are delighted to remain in downtown Boston and reinforce our engagement with, and commitment to, this world-class city.”

Columbia Threadneedle is an asset manager and an arm of Ameriprise Financial, with over 2,000 employees and offices in 17 countries. The firm has over 500 employees based in Boston, which itself is a global hub for the investment management industry.

Cushman & Wakefield ‘s John Boyle, Michael Joyce, Tom O’Regan and Maeve Cleary represented Columbia Threadneedle in the transaction.