Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Signs 11-Year Lease at One Battery Park Plaza
Rudin, one of New York City's most prominent real estate families, has announced that Curtis + Ginsberg Architects has signed a 12,602 square-foot lease at One Battery Park Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The award-winning architectural firm will relocate its headquarters to a portion of the 27th floor of the 35-story, 870,000 square-foot office tower. The move is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2023, transitioning from the firm's current 10,307 square-foot office at 55 Broad Street — representing a meaningful expansion of its workspace. The lease term spans 11 years, underscoring a long-term commitment to both Lower Manhattan and the Rudin portfolio.
Why Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Chose to Stay in Lower Manhattan
The decision by Curtis + Ginsberg Architects to remain in Lower Manhattan is a strong signal of confidence in one of New York City's most historically rich and rapidly evolving commercial districts. Rather than migrating to Midtown or another borough, the firm chose to deepen its roots in a neighborhood it knows well — and for good reason. Lower Manhattan has steadily transformed over the past decade, attracting a diverse mix of creative, financial, and professional services tenants who value its connectivity, culture, and increasingly modern infrastructure.
R. Darby Curtis AIA, Managing Partner of Curtis + Ginsberg, spoke directly to the motivation behind the move: "We are excited to stay in Lower Manhattan and look forward to expanding our space at One Battery Park Plaza, which will enhance our collaborative work environment and mission of providing designs that enhance communities." That statement reflects the firm's broader philosophy — architecture is not merely about buildings, but about the communities those buildings serve.
The expanded footprint at One Battery Park Plaza gives the firm room to grow its team, foster greater internal collaboration, and continue delivering the kind of thoughtful, sustainable design work that has earned it national recognition over the years.
About Curtis + Ginsberg Architects
Curtis + Ginsberg Architects is a New York City-based architectural firm with a well-established reputation for providing award-winning services across a range of project types. The firm specializes in quality sustainable design, with a strong emphasis on creating spaces and structures that positively impact the communities they inhabit. Over the years, Curtis + Ginsberg has built a portfolio that spans residential, civic, educational, and commercial projects — all unified by a commitment to thoughtful design and environmental responsibility. Their move to One Battery Park Plaza aligns naturally with the building's own sustainability credentials and forward-thinking infrastructure.
One Battery Park Plaza: A Premier Lower Manhattan Address
One Battery Park Plaza is far more than a classic Manhattan office tower. Originally constructed by the Rudins in 1971, the building was designed with original architecture by Emery Roth & Sons, the same firm responsible for some of New York's most iconic mid-century commercial structures. The lobby has since been beautifully renovated by Specter DeSouza Architects, featuring elegant Italian marble that blends timeless aesthetic sensibility with contemporary refinement.
Floor plates in the building range from 27,000 to 29,000 square feet — large, flexible spaces well-suited to modern workplace configurations. But perhaps the most striking feature of One Battery Park Plaza is its views. Tenants enjoy sweeping panoramas of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, and Battery Park itself. For an architectural firm, working in a space that offers such an inspiring visual context is not a trivial benefit — it is a daily reminder of what thoughtful design and civic investment can achieve at scale.
Sustainability and Technology at One Battery Park Plaza
One Battery Park Plaza has made significant investments in its sustainability profile and technological infrastructure, making it one of the more forward-thinking office addresses in Lower Manhattan. The building has achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating, a globally recognized certification that evaluates buildings based on policies, protocols, and design features that protect and promote tenant health and well-being. This is particularly relevant in a post-pandemic environment where occupants and employers alike place enormous value on indoor air quality, sanitation, and wellness-oriented design.
The building is also WiredScore Platinum certified, placing it among the most digitally connected office properties in New York City. WiredScore Platinum certification is awarded to buildings that demonstrate exceptional digital infrastructure, providing tenants with the reliable, high-speed connectivity that modern businesses require. Additionally, One Battery Park Plaza utilizes Nantum, widely regarded as the world's most advanced building operating system. Nantum leverages artificial intelligence and real-time data analytics to optimize energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and reduce the building's overall carbon footprint.
For a firm like Curtis + Ginsberg Architects — one deeply committed to sustainable design — choosing a headquarters that embodies these values is a statement in itself. The building is, in a sense, a live case study in best-practice commercial real estate management.
The Transition from 55 Broad Street: What It Means
The backdrop to this lease signing involves another significant real estate story unfolding simultaneously in Lower Manhattan. Rudin recently finalized the sale of 55 Broad Street — Curtis + Ginsberg's current home — to Silverstein Properties and Metro Loft Management. The new owners intend to convert the building into 571 residential units, contributing to the broader residential densification of Lower Manhattan. Rudin will retain an equity stake in the conversion project, maintaining a continued interest in the building's future even as its commercial use comes to an end.
Michael Rudin, Executive Vice President of Rudin, highlighted the significance of the transition: "We are pleased to be able to accommodate Curtis & Ginsberg's move to One Battery Park Plaza as 55 Broad Street embarks on its next chapter. Their decision to remain within our portfolio is indicative of Rudin's history of creating long-term relationships with our tenants." That sentiment speaks to a broader truth about successful commercial real estate — lasting value is built not just through properties, but through partnerships.
What This Lease Signals for the Lower Manhattan Office Market
The Curtis + Ginsberg lease at One Battery Park Plaza is a positive indicator for the Lower Manhattan office market, which has faced its share of headwinds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As hybrid and remote work models reshuffled tenant demand across New York City, the question of whether professional service firms — particularly smaller, specialized ones — would continue to invest in premium office space remained open. This lease answers part of that question affirmatively.
Firms that prioritize collaboration, culture, and in-person creative work are finding that high-quality, well-located, technologically advanced office spaces remain essential tools. One Battery Park Plaza, with its combination of iconic views, modern amenities, health certifications, and smart building technology, represents exactly the kind of space that meets the elevated expectations of today's tenants.
- 12,602 square feet leased on the 27th floor of One Battery Park Plaza
- 11-year lease term beginning in Q3 2023
- Expansion from 10,307 sq ft at 55 Broad Street to 12,602 sq ft at One Battery Park Plaza
- Building certified with WELL Health-Safety Rating and WiredScore Platinum
- Panoramic views of New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, and Battery Park
As Lower Manhattan continues to evolve — balancing its financial heritage with a growing creative and professional services community — transactions like this one help define the character of its commercial future. For Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, One Battery Park Plaza is not just a new address. It is a platform for the next chapter of inspired, community-centered design.