Synthesia is planting a much bigger flag in Manhattan. The London-based AI video platform has locked in roughly 50,000 square feet at 675 Avenue of the Americas in the Flatiron District, a major upgrade that gives the company a serious New York base as it scales. The lease lines up with an aggressive hiring push and a strategy to cluster in-office teams in product, sales and customer success, underscoring how AI and tech firms are once again chasing large, collaborative floor plates in Midtown South.
As reported by New York Business Journal, the deal spans about 50,000 square feet at 675 Sixth Avenue and is tied to plans to add more than 400 employees in 2026. That outlet frames the lease as part of Synthesia’s broader plan to build out both U.S. and European hubs as it scales enterprise sales and customer support.
A CBRE office report, summarized by Commercial Observer, also cites the Flatiron lease and notes that the terms and brokers on the deal were not publicly disclosed. At the same time, REBusinessOnline documents that Synthesia previously took about 13,600 square feet at 245 Fifth Avenue in 2025, suggesting the company is building on its Manhattan presence rather than swapping addresses.
Big Floor Plates, Old-School Charm
The 675 Avenue of the Americas property, often called the Mattel Building, is known for its full-block floor plates and high ceilings, a combo that listings and property records say keeps it popular with creative and tech tenants. Recent commercial listings and building records show roughly 50,000-square-foot floors available, along with modernized mechanical systems that help the prewar structure compete with newer Midtown South inventory. PropertyShark details the size and current floor-plate availability.
Synthesia's Hiring And Funding
Synthesia has been telegraphing this level of expansion for a while. In a company update announcing new hubs and fresh investment in its go-to-market and customer success teams, leadership laid out plans for a major hiring wave. European outlet Sifted reported that the firm expects to grow headcount by roughly 70 percent this year, or more than 400 roles, on the heels of a $200 million Series E that valued the company near $4 billion. That funding is the backbone for its push into multiple new offices.
What It Means For The Market
The lease slots neatly into a broader rebound in Manhattan office demand. Colliers reports that its Q1 2026 Manhattan Office Report shows leasing velocity climbing and availability tightening, which makes large, high-quality floor plates an increasingly competitive prize. AI and tech outfits are a visible part of that story, and a headline tenant like Synthesia taking a 50,000-square-foot floor in Midtown South reinforces the neighborhood’s pull for fast-growing enterprise software firms that want a big New York footprint.
What's Next For Synthesia And Flatiron
With lease economics and broker lineups still under wraps, local players are watching for the next round of tea leaves. Commercial Observer has noted that neighbors and market watchers will likely be scanning upcoming permits and filings for clues on buildout timelines and tenant improvements. The move also tracks with Synthesia’s recent U.S. expansion, including a move to open a downtown Austin office in April, which points to a strategy of anchoring key markets with on-the-ground teams.
For Flatiron workers, cafés and office vendors, Synthesia’s arrival is another sign that Manhattan is still very much in play for rapid-growth tech companies that want visible, campus-style spaces. Expect more clarity on timing and headcount as lease documents surface, construction permits hit the public record and the company posts New York roles tied directly to its new address.
