W&H Properties signs four leases totaling 15,000 s/f in LEED-candidate pre-builts in the Empire State Building

W&H Properties' new generation of LEED-candidate, high-end pre-built suites at the Empire State Building is a success, with four suites pre-leased in three months, according to Fred Posniak, senior VP of Malkin Holdings, which supervises W&H Properties. The new tenants for the pre-built suites, located on the 53rd and 75th floors, are Turkish Airlines; the Aberleen Group, a financial services firm; and X5 Music Group. In addition, the law firm Napoli Bern Ripka LLP expanded its space in the building and now occupies one of these suites, in addition to its existing space, for a total of 15,000 s/f. This particular set of pre-builts are LEED candidate spaces that feature Energy Star appliances, tenant-controlled HVAC, high-end finishes composed of sustainable materials, an abundance of natural light throughout from glass walled offices and conference rooms, daylighting, sub-metered electric, and panoramic views. "The speed of leasing is not the only impressive aspect of these suites," said Posniak. "They've also commanded high-watermark rents. In fact, ownership is so happy with the results, it has decided to expand the standard to our other properties." "We've always felt that luxury, efficiency and sustainability can and should be combined in office buildings," Posniak said. "These high-end pre-built suites are an excellent reflection of this objective." Three suites are still available, each totaling 3,000 to 4,000 s/f. Two of them are on the 53rd floor and the third is on the 75th. Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the World's Most Famous Office Building. With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities totaling more than $550 million, the Empire State Building has attracted and continues to attract corporate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The Empire State Building also has taken a leading role in sustainability, partnering with the Clinton Climate Initiative, Rocky Mountain Institute, Johnson Controls and Jones Lang LaSalle to develop an innovative process for a comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit program that will reduce the building's total energy consumption by 38% and that has led the building to receive an Energy Star rating of 90, placing it in the top 10% in energy efficiency among all buildings measured under the Energy Star program. The energy retrofit program that contributed to the Energy Star designation is also an important element in the target to seek LEED-EB Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council. The Empire State Building's upgrades - planned and completed - include a comprehensive restoration of the Art Deco lobby and ceiling, along with the creation of a dedicated 34th Street tenant entrance, visitor desk and access control, messenger center, new restrooms, air-conditioned public corridors, new marble elevator cabs, 6,500 new windows, improvements to the building-wide mechanical and electrical systems, and improved security systems. Part of the W&H Properties' Pre-War Trophy office portfolio, the Empire State Building is supervised by Malkin Holdings LLC, one of New York City's most financially stable ownerships. Additional high-end pre-built suites are still available throughout the building, along with fully white-boxed partial and full floors ready for tenant build out from 10,000 square feet, and a contiguous large block of up to 373,479 square feet now available. Broker commissions are paid in full at lease signing. ### 02/23/11