
<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in the registration statement (the "Registration
Statement") of Brandywine Realty Trust (the "Company") of: our report dated
February 22, 1997, on the consolidated financial statements of the Company,
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996; our reports dated October 31, 1996 on the combined statements of
revenue and certain expenses of Equivest Management Inc. Acquisition Properties,
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System Acquisition
Properties, and of Delaware Corporate Center for the year ended December 31,
1995, included in the Company's Prospectus filed on November 27, 1996 relating
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-13969) declared
effective November 25, 1996; our report dated February 11, 1997 on the combined
financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of Columbia Acquisition
Properties for the year ended December 31, 1996, included in the Company's Form
8-K/A (No.1) dated February 13, 1997 and Form 8-K/A (No. 2) dated February 24,
1997; our report dated January 29, 1997 on the combined financial statements of
revenue and certain expenses of Main Street Properties for the year ended
December 31, 1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K/A (No. 1) dated April 29,
1997; our report dated May 29, 1997 on the combined financial statements of
revenue and certain expenses of TA Properties for the year ended December 31,
1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K dated June 9, 1997; our report dated
June 3, 1997 on the combined financial statements of revenue and certain
expenses of Emmes Properties for the year ended December 31, 1996, included in
the Company's Form 8-K dated June 9, 1997; our report dated June 23, 1997 on the
combined financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of 748 & 855
Springdale Drive for the year ended December 31, 1996 included in the Company's
Form 8-K dated June 26, 1997; our report dated July 21, 1997 on the combined
financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of the Green Hills
Properties for the year ended December 31, 1996 included in the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997; our report dated July 21, 1997 on the
combined financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of the Berwyn Park
Properties for the year ended December 31, 1996, included in the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997; our report dated August 21, 1997 on
the combined financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of 500 & 501
Office Center Drive for the year ended December 31, 1996 included in the
Company's Form 8-K dated September 10, 1997; our report dated October 15, 1997
on the combined financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of
Metropolitan Industrial Center for the year ended December 31, 1996, included in
the Company's Form 8-K dated October 30, 1997; our report dated October 27, 1997
on the combined financial statements of revenue and certain expenses of Atrium I
for the year ended December 31, 1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K dated
October 30, 1997; our report dated November 14, 1997 on the combined financial
statements of revenue and certain expenses of Scarborough Properties for the
year ended December 31, 1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K dated December
16, 1997; our report dated December 3, 1997 on the financial statement of
revenue and certain expenses of Bala Pointe Office Centre for the year ended
December 15, 1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K dated December 16, 1997;
our report dated December 13, 1997 on the combined financial statement of
revenue and certain expenses of GMH Properties for the year ended December 31,
1996, included in the Company's Form 8-K dated December 17, 1997; our report
dated January 22, 1998 on the combined financial statement of revenue and
certain expenses of the RREEF Properties, included in the Company's Form 8-K
dated January 27, 1998; and to all references to our Firm included in the
Prospectus in the Registration Statement.


                                                  /s/  ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                  Arthur Andersen LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 20, 1998

