NEW YORK CITY—The Durst Organization has signed leases with two firms participating in the tower's pre-built initiative. The three-million-square-foot building is now more than 56% leased.

Legends Hospitality—the sports entertainment company developing the building's One World Observatory on floors 100-102—will situate members of its observatory operations team in a 4,759-square-foot office located on a portion of the 45th floor under a 10-year lease. 

Additionally, the London-based BMB Group is set to take the second pre-built space—covering 2,191 square feet on the 46th floor—under a 10-year lease. The BMB Group—which provides asset management and investment advisory services to sovereign wealth funds—is relocating its US offices from nearby 7 World Trade Center.

One World Trade Center's pre-built/build-to-suit program sets aside a total of 94,000 square feet on the 45th and 46th floors, and can accommodate a maximum of 18 tenants. 

Floors are designed and being subdivided into smaller increments that allow single users to lease as little as 2,000 square feet up to a total of 20,000 square feet.  The build-to-suit initiative offers customized construction and finishes to meet specific tenant configurations.  A limited number of units will be available for occupancy in November.

“We have forged a terrific relationship with Legends and are very pleased that they have chosen to locate their One World Observatory office at One World Trade Center,” says Jonathan (Jody) Durst, president of the Durst Organization. “We are also excited to add the BMB Group to our tenant roster under our pre-built program, which provides companies searching for a smaller footprint the opportunity to reap the benefits of New York's most prestigious new address.”

Adds Eric Engelhardt, VP, director of leasing at One WTC for Durst, “These pre-built and build-to-suit opportunities have consistently attracted interest from companies worldwide eager to establish a presence at this elite venue. Tenant prospects appreciate the status and allure delivered by the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. This globally recognized address resonates perfectly with these companies' own international reach and prestige.”

The Durst Organization's marketing campaign is being led by Eric Engelhardt and Karen Kuznick in conjunction with Cushman & Wakefield, whose leasing team is led by executive vice chairman Tara Stacom and includes Alan Stein, James Searl and Justin Royce, and Jodi Pulice of JRT Realty. 

Says Stacom, “One World Trade Center's pre-built and build-to-suit suites provide the perfect opportunity for companies engaged in global commerce to enhance their brand by leasing space in a prestigious address known throughout the world. “Our high-quality installations, designed and constructed to achieve LEED Gold certification, are available in a variety of sizes and designs to meet the needs of companies who require enclosed offices, as well as those preferring flexible, open space.  The availability of small office suites has attracted a lot of tenant interest and we are currently in the advanced stages of negotiation for several other units.”  

The Legends space will serve as the management and administrative office for the 120,000-square-foot One World Observatory.  The venue, situated 1,250 feet above New York City's streets, is scheduled to open next spring. 

The Durst Organization and Cushman & Wakefield represented ownership on both the Legends and the BMB lease. Legends was represented in-house, and the BMB Group was represented by Jonathan Fein of Cushman & Wakefield.

Other tenants include advertising firm KiDS, which signed a 15-year, 34,775-square-foot lease in May and anchor tenant Condé Nast. The latter firm, a publishing giant, will take up nearly 1.2 million square feet when it moves into One World Trade this November.