With the value of FinTech being recognized by both corporations and individual users, the value of providing accessibility to their financial operations and capital has expedited the need for new products in the field. That has given the sector an added degree of urgency, as well as enhanced attention from outside capital looking for the increased potential of capitalization. A direct result of the industry’s rapid growth is that emerging financial technology companies now have dollars to spend on highly amenitized, well-located office space in some of the world’s office hotspots.
We’ve looked at some of the more prominent office hotspots in Manhattan and settled on a list of assets best suited for a FinTech firm on the rise. As the finance capital of the world, New York City’s appeal to companies looking to break into the sector is undeniable. The city is one of the largest startup ecosystems in the world, even outpacing San Francisco in terms for sheer volume of venture capital flowing into the city’s FinTech firms in 2016.
However, proximity to the world’s largest banking firms, the large availability of international capital and almost unparalleled exposure to highly skilled talent in the field all come at a premium. Office rates in Manhattan are some of the highest in the world, and office space on the island is frequently targeted by cash-rich investment funds looking to capitalize and ink significant leasing deals.
4 World Trade Center
As the first commercial asset to commence operations at the WTC site, 4 World Trade Center is a trophy commercial tower located in Lower Manhattan. The 72-story office building designed by architect Fumihiko Maki debuted in 2013 and is one of the most high-end assets on the island.
The 2.5 million square-foot property was designed and built to receive LEED Gold certification, which it did through the use of fixtures such as rain water collection, specialized HVAC, insulated windows and preferential parking for fuel-efficient vehicles. Developer Silverstein Properties is working with CBRE to handle all leasing for the asset. FinTech companies on the rise would relish the asset’s position, large floorplates and high-end space. Plus, Hudson River Trading just opened up 69,000 square feet of space in the property, following its move for extra space to 3 World Trade Center.
150 Fifth Avenue
This is a little bit of a cheat, since the property is already fully leased, but we’re willing to bet Mastercard knew what it was doing when it snapped up the entire available space at 150 Fifth Avenue, establishing a significant foothold in the Flatiron District.
The 227,500 square-foot building was built in 1900 and went through an extensive renovation in 2003. 150 Fifth is under the ownership of L&L Holding, who also handles its own leasing at the asset. The single-tenant asset is a strong example of a property that athgrowing FinTech venture could snap up to establish a foothold in a prime finance area in Midtown South. Standing 11 stories tall, the property offers 23,000-square-foot floorplates, is in close proximity to public transport and features common area wifi. A street-level retail component offers 15,000 square feet of space.
605 Third Avenue
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then moving in at 605 Third Ave is the way to go. FinTech operator Broadridge Financial recently took up a big chunk of space at the 44-story office tower. Fisher Brothers’ high-rise has a total rentable area of 1.05 million square feet in an area that offers close proximity to Grand Central Terminal as one of its key selling points.
Built in 1963, the property offers floor sizes that range between 10,649 and 43,580 square feet of space, making it pliable to a wide variety of tenants. Owned by Fisher Brothers alongside J.P. Morgan’s asset management division, the property went through a $25 million renovation process, which has translated into improved leasing.
251 West 30th
With Chelsea being one of the last bastions of growth in Manhattan, who wouldn’t want to ink a deal and have a relatively low-key presence here? Its main FinTech connection is that it was the home of Quovo, one of the industry’s fastest rising ventures until its 2018 acquisition by Plaid in a near-$200 million deal.
The 1927-built office property at 251 W 30th offers a total of 104,199 square feet of space. Its hottest pitch to companies is its presence in a hip part of town that continues to attract young talent. Formerly known as the Recording and Rehearsal Arts Building, the asset is under the ownership of HSP Real Estate Group, with leasing handled by Newmark Knight Frank. A nigh-adjacent position of Penn Station means that employees have an easy commute from across the five boroughs.
55 Hudson Yards
Set to instantly become one of Manhattan’s premier office buildings, 55 Hudson Yards is a 1.27-million square-foot tower. The 780-foot tall building is being developed by a venture consisting of Mitsui Fudosan, Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group. With the master planned development at Hudson Yards set to reshape the Chelsea submarket, appetite for high-end space is strong near the High Line, as a vibrant lifestyle scene is attractive to many young professionals.
Floorplates at the 51-story tower range between 27,000 and 43,300 square feet, proving attractive to both larger tenants and companies on the rise. CBRE is the leasing manager for the property.
The Seagram Building
Standing 516 feet tall and offering up 640,000 square feet of space is the Seagram Building, at 375 Park Ave. The striking tower is a prime example of Mies Van Der Rohe’s functionalist aesthetic that took the world by storm in the late 1950s.
A presence at this high-profile building in Midtown Manhattan would provide exposure in and of itself, while the gross square footage of its floorplates—available in 39,000, 26,000 and 18,000 square feet—could prove appropriate for several businesses. Owned by RFR Holdings, the property has a range of availabilites, with several move-in ready spaces.
Paramount Plaza
Located at 1633 Broadway, Paramount Plaza is another trophy office building offering 2.6 million square feet of space in an attractive location. Formerly known as the Uris Building, the asset is one of the largest LEED Gold certified assets in the U.S. Owner Paramount Group completed a $1 billion loan to refinance the asset in 2016, banking on the asset’s high-rise Midtown Manhattan appeal.
The building is home to the Gershwin and Circle in the Square theaters, establishing itself as one of the area’s most visible and frequented assets. Its strong appeal to highly skilled professionals and strong asset qualities are good calling cards for the CBRE-led leasing effort.
One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
Fresh off a blockbuster deal valued at $600 million, the One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza is a 50-story glass office tower located at 885 Second Ave. that could offer an emerging FinTech startup the high profile move it needs in the Manhattan market. The asset is home to a number of permanent missions to the nearby United Nations, offering the asset a stable tenant roster.
The 628-foot tall office tower offers 750,000 square feet of space and is an out-of-the-box choice that could put a tenant on the map in the borough’s high profile market.
