Foerch of Savills Studley leases 11,000 s/f to Harman at 19 West 44th Street

New York, NY Savills Studley has completed a new office lease for Harman International (Harman).

Harman, a Samsung company, designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide. The company signed an 11,000 s/f lease (18th floor) at 19 West 44th St. Harman, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, will house its newly created design agency, Huemen, in the new Midtown space as its global internal design headquarters and Huemen’s anchor studio for external clients.

“Creating this design studio in the heart of New York solidifies Harman’s commitment to world-class design across all disciplines; Huemen’s design studio will lead internal and external projects for clients globally, attract the greatest talent, and lead as the center for innovation from concept to delivery,” said Christian Schluender, VP and GM of global design at Harman.

Harman’s new design center will feature its own 2,000 s/f outdoor terrace, 13-ft. ceilings and a mezzanine space.

Savills Studley’s Christopher Foerch represented Harman in the New York transaction alongside Los Angeles-based colleague Marcus Arredondo, who works with Harman globally. The landlord, Savanna, was represented by JLL’s Mitch Konsker, Ben Bass, Barbara Winter and Kip Orban.

Said Foerch, “For Harman’s new design team, Huemen, it was critical to find a bright, unique space that would attract creative talent and foster innovation. The company desired outdoor space for both recruiting purposes as well as host product launch and industry events, all while being located near Grand Central for quick access to its Stamford headquarters. The layout and design of the studio, as well as the capital improvements being made to the building, were an ideal fit for Huemen and will serve as a foundation for its global design team’s long-term growth and success.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Harman as the first new tenant since we acquired the building,” said Brian Reiver, managing director of Savanna. “When we planned our initial capital improvements for the asset, the intent of our work was to attract a wide range of tenants through high-quality, thoughtfully designed pre-built offices. Harman’s commitment reflects the success of our plan and the broadening tenant mix at 19 W 44th St.”

19 West 44th St. is a 303,943 s/f, loft-style, 18-story office building located in Midtown. The landlord is renovating the property with cosmetic and base building improvements, including a new progressive design, a revamped lobby and state-of-the-art amenities. Huemen’s office will be located between two of New York’s biggest commuter hubs, Times Square and Grand Central Station, providing excellent transportation access across the city and surrounding suburbs via 19 subway lines, LIRR and Metro North Railroad.