Brookfield Properties signs National Grid to 2 Hanson Pl.; Cushman & Wakefield acts for tenant

Brooklyn, NY According to Brookfield Properties, National Grid has signed a 15-year, 87,000 s/f lease at 2 Hanson Pl. National Grid is designing a workspace at the building in response to the changing expectations of talent, with flexible workstations and zones for collaboration. National Grid will move into the 14-story class A building and occupy the 11^th and 12^th floors by the end of 2020.

Commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield represented National Grid in its headquarters relocation. A team of brokerage professionals from the firm’s N.J., Manhattan and Brooklyn offices – led by James Frank, including Daniel Johnsen, Lawrence Wilks, Joseph Cirone, Patrick Dugan and Helen Paul–led the site search and negotiation. Brookfield was represented in-house by Jesse Cooperman, Alex Liscio, Ross Hoddeson and Alireza Esmaeilzadeh.

“2 Hanson Pl. is one of the best office locations not just in Brooklyn but in New York City, with unmatched access to transit and well positioned in the Brooklyn Cultural District at the nexus of several neighborhoods, including Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, and Boerum Hill,” said Esmaeilzadeh, senior vice president of asset management and leasing at Brookfield Properties. “With its acquisition by Brookfield, we are repositioning this class A commercial asset to serve the needs of tenants looking for new, modern spaces. We look forward to welcoming National Grid to 2 Hanson Pl.!” 

“An investment in our workspace is an investment in our people,” said Shri Madhusudhan, vice president of National Grid Property Services. “We are so excited to move into our new offices at 2 Hanson Pl. later this year. The location is ideal with unparalleled access to transportation and all of the benefits that come with being in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. We embarked on a wide search for a new office that would best serve our employees and visitors and reflect our direction and evolution as a clean energy company. 2 Hanson Pl. was chosen with overwhelming support by our search team.”

“This high-performance and sustainable workspace reflects the image and brand of a twenty-first century energy company that National Grid values,” said James L. Frank. “Brooklyn today offers many appealing options for Class A space users. Following an exhaustive search, 2 Hanson Place was selected for its quality, image and location above the Atlantic Terminal.”

2 Hanson Place is located at the largest transportation hub in Brooklyn, and among the largest hubs in New York City, with a Citi Bike station and direct access to the Long Island Rail Road and 10 subway lines, including the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R, and W lines, providing quick access to downtown and midtown Manhattan. The building features views of the harbor and is just minutes away from cultural destinations including the Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), as well as dining and retail options.

2 Hanson Place is part of the Brookfield Properties portfolio following the acquisition of Forest City Realty in 2018. Brookfield is planning to add shared amenity spaces to the building, including conferences and communal spaces.