Six Visionary Developers Reshaping New York City’s Skyline

You feel it immediately—that neck-craning moment when you enter a truly spectacular building. While “Zoom culture” remains, the most elite NYC developers still create jaw-dropping spaces commanding $70–$200 per square foot.

And companies battle aggressively for these addresses because they understand what spreadsheets can’t measure: exceptional space attracts exceptional talent.

Walking potential tenants through these buildings, I watch budget concerns evaporate the moment elevator doors open to reveal breathtaking views. The “wow factor” is real and translates directly to signed leases, keeping thousands of jobs from fleeing to Texas or Florida.

From Hudson Yards in Midtown Manhattan to revitalized properties in Downtown Manhattan, these projects reshape where—and how—New Yorkers work.

1. Related Companies: The Masterminds Who Built a City Within a City

When Stephen M. Ross founded Related Companies in 1972, nobody predicted this affordable housing specialist would someday reshape Manhattan’s western skyline. Fifty years later, with $60 billion in assets, Related evolved from underdog to undisputed heavyweight champion of New York development.

Related transformed 28 desolate acres of train yards into Hudson Yards, America’s largest private real estate development. With soaring office towers, luxury residences, and bold architecture, Related proved that you can literally build a city over train tracks. Their secret weapon is their expertise with “as-of-right” zoning, bypassing the red tape that slows most developers.

Next up? A 1,200-foot tower at 625 Madison Avenue and a proposed Wynn casino with a two-million-square-foot office tower. Related isn’t just building—they’re shaping what corporate America demands in the 21st century.

2. SL Green: The Landlord-Developer Behind Manhattan’s Most Expensive Offices

SL Green owns or has stakes in 55 Manhattan buildings totaling more than 30 million square feet. The crown jewel? One Vanderbilt, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, which commands rents above $200/SF for upper floors and delivers amenities like a Daniel Boulud steakhouse and skyline views that sell themselves.

SL Green’s portfolio has an astounding 91.8% occupancy rate as of early 2025 and continues to grow. IBM, for example, just leased over 362,000 square feet at One Madison Avenue. The company also just acquired 500 Park Avenue for $130 million and sold 85 Fifth Avenue for $47 million—demonstrating their uncanny ability to buy high and sell higher.

3. Brookfield Properties: The Global Giant Transforming Manhattan Block by Block

Brookfield manages more than 150 million square feet globally, with projects in Manhattan that include Manhattan West, built over active train tracks near Penn Station. It’s a mixed-use superblock where six million square feet blend office, residential, retail, and public space.

Brookfield also revamped 660 Fifth Avenue, investing $400 million in a glass facade and sustainability upgrades, and reinvented Brookfield Place in the Financial District. Their signature move is taking underperforming assets and turning them into trophy properties with luxury appeal and green design.

4. Silverstein Properties: The Developer Who Rebuilt When Others Said “Impossible”

Larry Silverstein bought the World Trade Center lease six weeks before 9/11. Instead of walking away, he rebuilt. 7 WTC rose in 2006, followed by 4 WTC and 3 WTC. Now, 5 WTC is moving forward.

Silverstein also restored 120 Broadway—a building that literally changed NYC zoning laws. They’re converting 55 Broad Street into 571 apartments, reflecting their ability to pivot as NYC’s needs evolve. Silverstein doesn’t just build—they preserve, adapt, and grow.

5. Vornado Realty Trust: The REIT That Rules Park Avenue

Vornado controls more than 20 million square feet of Class A office space in Manhattan, including a dominant presence along Park Avenue. Their Penn District redevelopment spans 10 million square feet around Penn Station and includes Plaza33, a new pedestrian plaza and reimagined towers.

In 2025, Vornado became the first major U.S. REIT to hit 100% LEED certification. Their proposed 62-story tower at 350 Park Avenue—anchored by Citadel—may set the new benchmark for sustainable luxury offices.

6. RXR Realty: The Developer Building NYC’s Next Supertall Trophy

Led by Scott Rechler, RXR Realty manages over 30 million square feet and is behind bold adaptive reuse projects like the Starrett-Lehigh Building. They also redeveloped Pier 57 and landmark addresses like 75 Rockefeller Plaza and 237 Park Avenue.

But their biggest bet is 175 Park Avenue, a $6.5 billion supertall skyscraper with 2.5 million SF of office space and a 500-room Hyatt hotel. When completed, it will surpass the Empire State Building in height and redefine Midtown’s skyline. They’ve already secured 535,000 SF leases from tenants like Ropes & Gray and doubled down on Midtown with high-stakes acquisitions like Worldwide Plaza.

7. The Final Word

While the pandemic emptied offices and Zoom meetings threatened Manhattan, these six NYC developers doubled down.

Related built a neighborhood where trains once roared. SL Green charges $200 per square foot because they can. Brookfield widened sidewalks when others cut corners. Silverstein rebuilt from literal ashes. Vornado turned Park Avenue into their personal Monopoly board. RXR plans to outgrow the Empire State Building.

Their buildings command rents that would make your mortgage blush. That’s not luck. That’s Manhattan-sized audacity backed by billions.

Skyscrapers do not exist in isolation, especially not in a crowded metropolitan area like Manhattan. For all the public pushback against tall towers, they are rarely the elitist caricatures critics claim. Instead, it has become a necessity these days for builders to consider neighborhood character. Controversial Supertall Towers Point the Way to Sustainable Office Space

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alan Rosinsky Principal Broker, Metro Manhattan Office Space Alan Rosinsky has over 20 years of experience representing office and retail tenants in New York City. Since 2004, he has negotiated more than 400 leases with top landlords and managing agents. His clients include startups and established firms across industries such as technology, private equity, finance, healthcare, and fashion. A New York City resident since 1983, Alan has extensive experience helping companies lease high-quality space and negotiate favorable terms. In recent years, he has been quoted in The New York Times and Commercial Observer. View his background on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanrosinsky/