Energy Capital Partners is bulking up at One World Trade Center again, tacking on roughly 44,000 square feet to seize the entire 59th floor. The latest grab pushes the energy-focused investment firm to about 70,000 square feet in the tower and nudges the Lower Manhattan landmark even closer to full occupancy, continuing a steady climb that started when ECP first arrived in 2017.
As first reported by Commercial Observer, the new deal brings ECP’s total footprint to 70,425 square feet by combining the full 59th floor with approximately 26,292 square feet it already controls on the 58th floor. It is the firm’s third expansion at One World Trade Center since 2017, although Durst and the Port Authority have kept quiet on the lease term and the asking rent.
Tenant History And Growth
According to a press release from The Durst Organization, ECP started modestly in 2017 with about 6,173 square feet before ramping up to roughly 26,292 square feet in 2023. Durst’s materials also pitch One World Trade Center as a roughly 3.1 million square foot, LEED Gold certified tower, complete with a 64th floor Sky Lobby and a 25,000 square foot Well& by Durst amenity center.
Market Momentum Behind The Move
Colliers' Q1 2026 Manhattan report shows about 11.78 million square feet of leasing activity in the first quarter, the strongest start to the year since 2014, and notes that average asking rents inched into the high $70s per square foot. That kind of momentum for high quality downtown office space has tightened availability and given trophy landlords more confidence to push for richer deals on their best floors.
Top Floors And Premium Pricing
Durst began actively marketing the tower’s uppermost floors last year, and owners across the market have been testing top of house pricing. The Real Deal reported that the landlord is seeking around $160 per square foot for those prime levels. With ECP’s latest commitment, One World Trade Center is now about 97 percent leased, according to Commercial Observer, giving Durst room to keep leaning into premium pricing on the remaining top tier space.
What This Means For FiDi
ECP’s incremental expansions highlight a retention and grow playbook that landlords love, avoiding expensive turnover while helping support rent levels on flagship space. Colliers' Q1 numbers help explain why owners feel emboldened to float eye watering asking rents, as leasing velocity has snapped back and buildings like One World Trade Center are soaking up an outsized share of tenant demand in the Financial District.
