Exhibit 3.1

SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

OF

GRIFFIN CAPITAL NET LEASE REIT, INC.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Griffin Capital Net Lease REIT, Inc.

SECOND: Article I of the Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the corporation, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

The name of the corporation is Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

THIRD: All other provisions of the Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement shall remain in full force and effect.

FOURTH: In accordance with Section 2-607 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), these Second Articles of Amendment were duly approved by a majority of the entire board of directors of the corporation on January 31, 2013, and were not required to be submitted to the stockholders of the corporation, as the amendment is limited to a change expressly authorized by Section 2-605 of the MGCL.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Griffin Capital Net Lease REIT, Inc., has caused the foregoing articles of amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on this 25th day of February, 2013.