<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 1997 and the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year Ended December 31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000921112 <NAME> LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 55,079 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,517 <ALLOWANCES> 1,603 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,596 <PP&E> 2,101,355 <DEPRECIATION> 152,367 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,094,337 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,504 <BONDS> 960,134 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 120,814 <COMMON> 53 <OTHER-SE> 834,728 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,094,337 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 232,517 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 61,079 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 51,402 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 53,986 <INCOME-PRETAX> 66,050 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 66,050 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 56,197 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.39 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.38