Offices at 545 Madison will be the first in the Plaza District to Experience Marx Realty’s Dramatic Hotel-Like Repositioning Strategy

Luxury Amenities with Signature Health and Wellness Features Create Excitement About Returning to Work

While the act of going to the office may be altered by the global pandemic, one constant remains: our need to be in a place where we feel comfortable, safe and have a sense of privacy that can easily give way to the collaboration needed to maintain a successful business model. Similar to how Ian Schrager transformed the hotel industry by creating a new sensory experience for guests, Marx Realty has pioneered the successful hospitality-like design aesthetic at its office assets for companies and their tenants, providing a much-needed lifeline for the office industry in times of uncertainty.

“We pioneered the hospitality aesthetic in the office sector and know how to quickly execute a transformation that makes tenants feel like they are walking into a luxury hotel,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty, a New York-based owner, developer and manager of office, retail and multifamily properties. “It starts at the front door by introducing a complete sensory experience and continues throughout the building with thoughtfully designed amenity spaces and common areas.”

Marx Realty recently announced a $24 million repositioning strategy at 545 Madison after taking control of the 18-story Plaza District office building in 2019. The hotel-like re-imagining of 545 Madison will include two floors of pre-built office suites, a redesigned lobby with Marx Realty’s signature scent and exterior entrance with a uniformed doorman and new amenities that represent the perfect combination of health and wellness with form and function. A Cushman & Wakefield team led by Tara Stacom is managing the leasing and marketing efforts at 545 Madison.  

“Industry pros are calling Craig Deitelzweig the Ian Schrager of the office space,” said Ms. Stacom of Cushman & Wakefield. “He rethought the office experience and his vision for bringing hospitality to office throughout the building results in a very unique and in-demand offering.”

News about the successful hospitality-infused transformation – and built-in wellness attributes – completed by Marx Realty at its 10 Grand Central asset spread quickly and by the time Marx Realty took control of 545 Madison, existing tenants were ready to renew and demand skyrocketed. For example, within weeks of taking control of the building, Marx Realty signed a five-year, 25,000-square foot lease renewal and expansion with financial software and applications developer Strike Technologies, and its electronic market making subsidiary Global Trading Systems (GTS). Soon after, Wells Fargo signed a retail lease taking 4,700 square feet of street level space at 545 Madison. 

“When we transformed our asset at 10 Grand Central into a space that embraces a meaningful hospitality-like aesthetic, we knew the concept would have broad appeal across our portfolio,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty. “The design sensibility combined with protocols that minimize the need to come in contact with high-traffic surfaces naturally gave way to sought-after health and wellness elements, a package that attracted high profile media, technology and financial services tenants interested in providing a welcoming space for their employees. We intend to duplicate this success at 545 Madison.”

As part of its strategy at 545 Madison, Marx Realty is programming materials that are antimicrobial and luxurious at the same time including copper and specialized fabrics while the uniformed doorman and lobby personnel will work in tandem to reduce the need for tenants and visitors to come in contact with surfaces. Marx Realty’s proprietary MarxConnect software interface will be implemented in order to minimize physical interaction. Although these health and wellness attributes have now become of the utmost importance, they have been part of Marx Realty’s signature design style since 2018. Various mechanical upgrades are also under consideration as part of the plan to reposition this asset for a post-Covid-19 office world. 

Marx Realty’s plans to transform the lobby and entryway are reminiscent of a boutique hotel with a striking marquee and sophisticated neon signage created by a Brooklyn-based artist. The entry will welcome tenants and guests with rounded, fluted glass doors and blackened bronze finishes. Walnut wood and bronze finishes in the lobby will infuse the space with a hospitality feel while a variety of seating options and a well-stocked library will create a sense of community. Suspended walnut wood panels and golden lighting will create an ambiance reminiscent of the world’s finest hotel lobbies and complement the International Style of the building. Gentle curves will replace hard corners throughout the space and a signature scent, combined with mood music, will round out the soothing experience.

Also coming to 545 Madison: A new club floor with a lounge space, terrace and boardroom in order to provide tenants with additional space to work or unwind in a space outside of their traditional office setting. The lounge will feature various seating options and walnut wood and bronze finishes. A café with built-in appliances will afford tenants the ability to host catered events in the lounge. With outdoor space at a premium, the terrace will provide tenants with an urban oasis overlooking Madison Avenue. In order to accommodate large meetings and company gatherings, the boardroom will feature seating for 40. 

David Burns of Studios Architecture is the architect working with Marx on the redesign of the lobby and creation of the amenity spaces. OTJ Architects will create the pre-built suites on the 3rd and 14th floors.

View the Full Article

Jackie Kennedy Legacy Lives on in Marx Realty’s Hospitality-Infused Design at The Herald Office Building in DC

Before Jacqueline Bouvier was Jackie Kennedy, she was the “Inquiring Camera Girl” for the historic Washington Herald newspaper located at 1307 New York Ave in DC. Jackie interviewed people about local events all around the world and worked at the iconic newspaper from 1951 to 1953, right before marrying Kennedy, who at the time was a senator from Massachusetts and a frequent guest of the building. 

Fast forward to 2020 and Marx Realty acquired the building, subsequently putting a $41 million renovation into motion. Constructed in 1923, the Beaux-Arts-style office building is known as the former home to the printing presses and offices of the newspaper where Jacqueline Bouvier parked her notebook. With ceiling heights ranging from 13’ to 19’7”, thanks to the former newspaper use, the offices at The Herald (www.theheralddc.com) will be unlike any other in the DC market.  

Marx Realty is focused on adding a hospitality-infused aesthetic throughout the 120,000-square-foot office building. The revamped and reimagined Herald will honor its historic significance while, at the same time, bringing the first top-to-bottom hotel-like sensory experience to the DC office sector. 

The repositioning will include an updated entry portal with oversized wooden doors attended by a uniformed doorman. The intimate marble-clad foyer opens to an expansive lounge and club replete with walnut wood and copper accents, ample seating areas and soaring 20-foot ceilings. Marx Realty is designing the highly anticipated Bouvier Club, an 8,800-square-foot lounge space within the building that pays homage to both the building’s history and Jackie Kennedy’s legacy. 

The sophisticated luxury hotel aesthetic will be infused throughout with a new library including a stone-surround fireplace; plush velvet banquette seating; a café offering cappuccino, fruit-infused water and wine; an outdoor patio; and, a 40-seat, state-of-the-art board room. The Herald will also welcome tenants and guests with a uniformed doorman attending oversized wooden entry doors along with curated mood music and Marx Realty’s signature scent, another nod to the luxury hotel aesthetic.

“Many of the pioneering design elements coming to The Herald also represent health and wellness attributes that have been in place at Marx properties for years prior to the global pandemic that altered the office landscape,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty “We are committed to designing beautiful spaces and an overall experience that provides a much-needed sense of warmth and tranquility, as well as safety and wellness, to our tenants and guests.”

The Herald will also boast a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring private workout rooms designed with the same meaningful hotel-like atmosphere Marx Realty has popularized. The workout oms, along with every shared space in the building, will include copper and brass along with other antimicrobial materials while the doorman and lounge concierge will work in tandem to reduce the need for tenants and visitors to come in contact with surfaces. Marx Realty’s proprietary software interface MarxConnect will be implemented throughout, further minimizing the need for physical interaction.

Additionally, the opportunity to create a building within a building makes this address especially attractive to a variety of firms. The opportunity for a company to secure its own private space in this historic building is unique, allowing them to capitalize on Marx Realty’s remarkable skill in creating a tailored office experience for a tenant in tune with the needs of its workforce. In the case of The Herald, this could mean a single tenant would have a separate entrance and access to as much as 50,000 square feet of space over four floors or as little as 12,000 square feet of space over two floors. 

With The Herald, Marx Realty will bring a truly distinctive experience to DC, one that combines form and function and as well as health and wellness, a package the company has perfected since the highly successful repositioning of the award-winning 10 Grand Central building in New York. The repositioning will be complete by spring 2021 and is the result of a close collaboration between Marx Realty’s design team and David Burns, New York-based principal of Studios Architecture.  Renderings and floorplans can be viewed at www.theheralddc.com

View the Full Article

Marx Realty signs 10-year lease with Wells Fargo

August 04, 2020

Manhattan, NY Marx Realty has signed a 10-year retail lease with Wells Fargo to occupy 4,700 s/f of retail space at 545 Madison Ave. in the Plaza District. Marx Realty was represented internally by Henry Henderson and Wells Fargo was represented by Annette Healey of CBRE. The asking rent was $575 per s/f.

The firm is relocating its branch from 540 Madison Ave. and the move represents a desire to align its brand with the hospitality-infused repositioning strategy pioneered by Marx Realty.  Marx Realty unveiled its $24 million repositioning of 545 Madison earlier this year after taking control of the 18-story office building in 2019.

“Marx saw incredible activity as we marketed the retail spaces at 10 Grand Central,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty.

The hotel-like repositioning of 545 Madison–including two floors of pre-built office suites and a reimagined lobby, façade and entryway as well as 5,000 s/f of new amenities that represent the perfect combination of form and function as well as health and wellness–is a strong driver of asking rents for office space in the building, which are in the $87-115 per s/f range. A Cushman & Wakefield team led by Tara Stacom will manage leasing and marketing efforts for office suites at 545 Madison.

As part of the repositioning at 545 Madison, Marx Realty is programming materials such as brass and bronze and specialized fabrics that tend to be anti-microbial in nature, while the doorman and lobby personnel will work in tandem to reduce the need for tenants and visitors to come in contact with surfaces. These wellness attributes have been part of Marx Realty’s signature design style since 2018. Various mechanical upgrades are also under consideration as part of the plan to reposition this asset for a post-COVID-19 office world.  David Burns of Studios Architecture is the architect working with Marx on the redesign. OTJ Architects will create the pre-built suites on the 3rd and 14th floors.

“We are excited to see nationally recognized brands like Wells Fargo recommitting to this part of Madison Ave.,” said Deitelzweig. “It’s especially rewarding to know that the firm chose this location based largely on Marx Realty’s commitment to reimagining the office building at 545 Madison with our signature hotel-like ambiance. It also reinforces the strength of the financial services sector in this enclave of Midtown Manhattan.”

Current tenants at 545 Madison include several investment firms and top-tier wealth management companies, including Permanens Capital. Financial software and applications developer Strike Technologies, and its electronic market making subsidiary Global Trading Systems (GTS), having recently signed a 25,000 s/f lease at 545 Madison.

View the Full Article

2020 Power 100 – #85 Craig M. Deitelzweig President and CEO at Marx Realty

BY GREG CORNFIELD July 27, 2020 9:00 AM

Marx Realty was founded more than 100 years ago, and it has been thriving since Craig Deitelzweig took over as president and CEO in 2017.

Marx has been repositioning iconic office properties on the East Coast with its signature “hospitality-infused” designs. In 2019, Marx completed a $48 million renovation of 10 Grand Central in Midtown Manhattan, with a new lobby, entrance, amenity space and other features to the 438,000-square-foot building to give it a 1930s vibe.

The renovation won BOMA’s Renovated Building of the Year award, and pushed rents up by $30 per square foot. Marx signed over 193,000 square feet of leases since the announcement of the repositioning, bringing occupancy up to 94 percent. One example came in March, when Rubric Capital moved to 10 Grand with a seven-year lease at $88 per square foot. New and existing tenants also include MassMutual, Benenson Capital Partners, the Association of National Advertisers, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.

Marx is in the process of a $20 million renovation with similar upgrades at the 140,000-square-foot 545 Madison, which will be complete by the end of 2020. In January, Strike Technologies expanded its lease at 545 Madison up to 25,000 square feet.

Marx is also expanding its signature redesigns in other markets. In April, at the height of shelter-in-place orders, Marx acquired The Herald Building, a 114,000-square-foot office in Washington, D.C., for $41 million. Marx plans to spend another $41 million on renovations starting in October. It is scheduled to be complete by spring 2021.

Deitelzweig said Marx is advancing its health-and-wellness focus since the pandemic hit. The firm has further developed Marx Connect, an app for touchless interactions with building systems. It also gives social distance “alerts,” temperature screenings, and more. It will become increasingly important in encouraging employees to return to the office.

“We’ve always been focused on health and wellness, so we really ramped that up now across our portfolio,” Deitelzweig said. “You now have UV lights in all of our buildings, we have ionization systems, sanitation stations and antimicrobial materials.”

The firm also took over management for the 1.15 million-square-foot Cross County Shopping Center this year, and will reposition it. Deitelzweig also expects to make more acquisitions this year.

“We’re looking at office products in New York, D.C. and Atlanta,” he said. “This quarter is going to be slow, but probably by the fourth quarter and quarter one [of 2021], we definitely intend to make acquisitions.”—G.C.

View the Full Article

Marx Realty signs two new retail leases in Greenwich

July 17, 2020

Marx Realty has signed two new retail leases in tony Greenwich, CT.

Health-conscious salad chain Sweetgreen and Italian luxury clothing brand Eleventy will occupy new locations at Marx Realty’s 98-102 Greenwich Avenue. 

A person wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera

Description automatically generated

Sweetgreen signed a 10-year, 3,100 s/f lease while Eleventy signed a short-term, 2,125 s/f lease. Both brands will benefit by opening their first Connecticut locations on the most desirable retail shopping destination in Connecticut.

Marx Realty was represented in-house by Henry Henderson on both deals, vice president of leasing. Sweetgreen was represented by Jacqueline Klinger of The Shopping Center Group. Eleventy was represented by Davie Berke of JLL. Asking rent was $120 psf for both.

“We are thrilled to welcome both Sweetgreen and Eleventy to a fantastic new location in Greenwich,” said Craig Deitelzweig, President and CEO of Marx Realty. 

“On top of being surrounded by numerous national retailers along Greenwich Avenue, both properties are on a high-pedestrian traffic area and also offer the option to set up outdoor seating, especially key as we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

Marx Realty and Sweetgreen had previously signed a 3,500 s/f  lease in January for a new location at 10 Grand Central, a 35-story Ely Jacques-Kahn designed office tower located in Midtown East neighborhood. Sweetgreen joined 10 Grand Central as Marx Realty was finishing the redesign of the building..

Sweetgreen chose to move forward with a second lease with Marx Realty as they believe the Marx team has design sensibility that aligns with its brand. The new location is expected to open late Summer.

Eleventy was looking to expand their presence in the east coast and into Connecticut. This short-term lease will enable them to set up a pop-up store in Greenwich with potential for becoming a permanent fixture in the area with a long-term deal. The Italian luxury brand’s new Connecticut store is officially opening on August 15.

View the Full Article

Sweetgreen and Eleventy Sign New Leases at 98-102 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT

July 15, 2020

Health-Conscious Salad Chain Sweetgreen and Italian Luxury Brand Eleventy To Open First Locations in Connecticut

Marx Realty, a New York-based owner, developer and manager of office, retail and multifamily property across the United States, announced that their in-house team has signed health-conscious salad chain Sweetgreen and Italian luxury clothing brand Eleventy to new locations at Marx Realty’s building on 98-102 Greenwich Avenue in the affluent town of Greenwich, Connecticut. Sweetgreen signed a 10-year, 3,100-square-foot lease while Eleventy signed a short-term, 2,125-square-foot lease. Both brands will benefit by opening their first Connecticut locations on the most desirable retail shopping destination in Connecticut.

Marx Realty was represented in-house by Henry Henderson on both deals, vice president of leasing. Sweetgreen was represented by Jacqueline Klinger of The Shopping Center Group. Eleventy was represented by Davie Berke of JLL. Asking rent was $120 per square foot for both.

“We are thrilled to welcome both Sweetgreen and Eleventy to a fantastic new location in Greenwich,” said Craig Deitelzweig, President and CEO of Marx Realty. “On top of being surrounded by numerous national retailers along Greenwich Avenue, both properties are on a high-pedestrian traffic area and also offer the option to set up outdoor seating, especially key as we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

Marx Realty and Sweetgreen had previously signed a 3,500-square-foot lease in January for a new location at 10 Grand Central, a 35-story Ely Jacques-Kahn designed office tower located in the heart of Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood. Sweetgreen joined 10 Grand Central as Marx Realty was finishing the hospitality-infused redesign of the building, including a new façade, lobby, and a state-of-the-art lounge and terrace.

Sweetgreen chose to move forward with a second lease with Marx Realty as they believe the Marx team has strong design sensibility that aligns with its brand. Marx understands Sweetgreen’s specific needs and is in sync with today’s ever-changing consumer tastes. This location is expected to open late Summer.

Eleventy was looking to expand their presence in the east coast and into Connecticut. This short-term lease will enable them to set up a pop-up store in Greenwich with potential for becoming a permanent fixture in the area with a long-term deal. The Italian luxury brand’s new Connecticut store is officially opening on August 15th.

Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 as a destination for simple, seasonal, healthy food and currently operates in 100 locations throughout 10 states. The company’s mission focuses on inspiring healthier communities by connecting people to real food and maintaining an important link between growers and consumers while taking special care with its approach to design. As with all their locations, this new space in Greenwich will preserve and honor the look and feel of the building and will include an open kitchen aesthetic that reflects Sweetgreen’s commitment to transparency.

Also founded in 2007, Eleventydresses every person who aspires to self-improvement with tailored and responsible Italian elegance. The company is focused on creating beautifully constructed garments for men and women at reasonable prices, while introducing sustainability and ethics into its practices.

View the Full Article

Salad, luxury apparel chains coming to Greenwich Avenue

By Kevin Zimmerman July 16, 2020

A pair of chain operations are opening their first Connecticut locations on Greenwich Avenue, according to Marx Realty.

Health-conscious salad chain Sweetgreen and Italian luxury clothing brand Eleventy respectively have signed a 10-year, 3,100-square-foot lease and a short-term, 2,125-square-foot lease at 98-102 Greenwich Ave.

Founded in 2007 and based in Culver City, California, Sweetgreen operates 100 locations in 10 states. It plans to open its new site in late summer. 

In January, Marx Realty and Sweetgreen signed a 3,500-square-foot lease for a new location at 10 Grand Central in Manhattan.

Also founded in 2007 and based in Milan, with its North American headquarters in New York City, Eleventy plans to open a pop-up store in Greenwich with potential for becoming a permanent fixture in the area with a long-term deal. Its Greenwich store is officially opening on Aug. 15.

Marx Realty was represented in-house on both deals by Henry Henderson. Sweetgreen was represented by Jacqueline Klinger of The Shopping Center Group. Eleventy was represented by Davie Berke of JLL. Asking rent was $120 per square foot for both.

View the Full Article

Wells Fargo Relocates Branch to Marx Realty’s 545 Madison

July 10, 2020

Marx Realty has signed a 10-year retail lease with Wells Fargo to occupy 4,700 square feet of retail space at its 545 Madison Ave. in Midtown’s Plaza District. Marx Realty was represented internally by Henry Henderson, while Wells Fargo was represented by CBRE’s Annette Healey.

“We are excited to see nationally recognized brands like Wells Fargo recommitting to this part of Madison Avenue,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty. “It’s especially rewarding to know that the firm chose this location based largely on Marx Realty’s commitment to reimagining the office building at 545 Madison with our signature hotel-like ambiance.”

The financial services giant is relocating its branch from 540 Madison Ave., speaking for most of the ground-floor retail at 545 Madison. Marx Realty announced its $24-million repositioning of 545 Madison earlier this year after taking control of the 18-story office building in 2019.

View the Full Article

Wells Fargo Signs 4,700 SF Retail Lease at Marx Realty’s 545 Madison Office Tower

July 9, 2020

Marx Realty’s Planned Hospitality-Infused Repositioning Drives Demand for Retail Space at Plaza District Building

The redesigned entry at Marx Realty’s 545 Madison features fluted glass doors and is reminiscent of the firm’s hospitality-like repositioning strategy.

Marx Realty (MNPP), a New York-based owner, developer and manager of office, retail and multifamily property across the United States, announced it has signed a 10-year retail lease with Wells Fargo to occupy 4,700 square feet of retail space at its 545 Madison property at 545 Madison Ave. in the Plaza District of Manhattan. Marx Realty was represented internally by Henry Henderson and Wells Fargo was represented by Annette Healey of CBRE. The asking rent was $575 per square foot.

“We are excited to see nationally recognized brands like Wells Fargo recommitting to this part of Madison Avenue,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty. “It’s especially rewarding to know that the firm chose this location based largely on Marx Realty’s commitment to reimagining the office building at 545 Madison with our signature hotel-like ambiance. It also reinforces the strength of the financial services sector in this enclave of Midtown Manhattan.”

The firm is relocating its branch from 540 Madison Ave. and the move represents a desire to align its brand with the dramatic hospitality-infused repositioning strategy pioneered by Marx Realty. Marx Realty announced its $24 million repositioning of 545 Madison earlier this year after taking control of the 18-story office building in 2019.

“Marx saw incredible activity as we marketed the retail spaces at 10 Grand Central,” said Deitelzweig. “And, we expect to see similar interest levels for the remaining 660 square feet of retail space at 545 Madison adjacent to the building’s new fluted glass door entry.”

The hotel-like repositioning of 545 Madison – including two floors of pre-built office suites and a reimagined lobby, façade and entryway as well as 5,000 square feet of new amenities that represent the perfect combination of form and function as well as health and wellness – is a strong driver of asking rents for office space in the building, which are in the $87-115 range. A Cushman & Wakefield team led by Tara Stacom will manage leasing and marketing efforts for office suites at 545 Madison.

As part of the repositioning at 545 Madison, Marx Realty is programming materials such as brass and bronze and specialized fabrics that tend to be anti-microbial in nature, while the doorman and lobby personnel will work in tandem to reduce the need for tenants and visitors to come in contact with surfaces. These wellness attributes have been part of Marx Realty’s signature design style since 2018. Various mechanical upgrades are also under consideration as part of the plan to reposition this asset for a post-Covid-19 office world. David Burns of Studios Architecture is the architect working with Marx on the redesign. OTJ Architects will create the pre-built suites on the 3rd and 14th floors.

Current tenants at 545 Madison include several investment firms and top-tier wealth management companies, including Permanens Capital. Financial software and applications developer Strike Technologies, and its electronic market making subsidiary Global Trading Systems (GTS), recently signed a 25,000-square-foot lease at 545 Madison.

View the Full Article

Marx Realty Announces $24 Million Renovation Of 545 Madison Avenue In Midtown
Rendering of new entryways at 545 Madison Avenue – Marx Realty; Studios Architecture

BY: SEBASTIAN MORRIS  MAY 28, 2020

Marx Realty has announced an extensive renovation project at 545 Madison Avenue to modernize the Midtown office building. The scope of work includes an overhaul of the lobby, creation of pre-built tenant suites on the third and 14th floors, and the construction of 5,000 square feet of new amenity spaces. According to representatives from the company, total construction costs for the project hover around $24 million and represent the growing demand for offices with hospitality-oriented amenities.

Plans for the lobby and entryway involve new marquee signage with neon lighting. The inside of the lobby will feature walnut wood and bronze finishes, fluted glass doors, and ambient music reminiscent of a hotel.

545 Madison Avenue’s repositioned lobby and ground floor library. Rendering by Studios Architecture and Marx Realty

The new amenities spaces will span two floors and include a new club floor offering lounge space, a boardroom designed to accommodate 40 seats, a cafe, and a private terrace overlooking Madison Avenue. Various mechanical upgrades are also under consideration to help promote the health and wellness of both new and existing tenants.

David Burns of Studios Architecture is the lead designer working with Marx on the redesign of the lobby and creation of the amenity spaces. OTJ Architects will design the suites on the third and 14th floors. Cushman & Wakefield will serve as the exclusive leasing and marketing agent for the available suites.

“We pioneered the hospitality aesthetic in the office sector and know how to quickly execute a transformation that makes tenants feel like they are walking into a luxury hotel,” said Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty. “It starts at the front door by introducing a complete sensory experience and continues throughout the building with thoughtfully designed amenity spaces and common areas.”

Office suite elevator at 545 Madison Avenue. Rendering by Studios Architecture and Marx Realty

View the Full Article