Wednesday, January 15, 2014

My dear Watson: 51 Astor Place is now the IBM Watson building


[Photo via @IBM]

A few more details have emerged in the aftermath of last Thursday's announcement that IBM is opening a new business unit surrounding its "Jeopardy"-ass-kicking super computer at 51 Astor Place.

For starters, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that IBM beat out Twitter for the 120,000-square-foot space.

IBM moved quickly to secure its spot in the 12-story tower by Astor Square, negotiating the details of the lease in just four days, said Edward Minskoff, the building's developer. "Twitter's a wonderful company and I would love to have been able to do both deals," Mr. Minskoff said.

And!

The building has been renamed — Please welcome the IBM Watson building to the neighborhood!

Per the Journal, the 12-story building is more than half-rented—with IBM, a 71,000-square-foot lease with St. John's University and a 42,000-square-foot lease with 1stdib. Leases on another three floors three floors are being negotiated.

Minskoff had said he'd fully lease 51 Astor Place by the end of this month.
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11 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 7:48 AM

    IBM Watson? Wow! That sounds as cool as a Jane Fonda workout tape. Trapped in the 80s much? Enjoy "Midtown South."

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 8:37 AM

    Deathstar forever!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 9:49 AM

    I think almost all the IBM employees which will work there would prefer the "Death Star" moniker instead.

    ReplyDelete
  4. GojiraJanuary 15, 2014 at 10:00 AM

    Elementary, my dear Death Star.

    Mr. Death Star, come here, I want to see you.

    Name those adapted quotes!

    ReplyDelete
  5. vzabuserJanuary 15, 2014 at 10:44 AM

    Gojira it is from the People Advocates Alexander Graham Marx.....
    or as his brother (?) Groucho used to say "A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."

    ReplyDelete
  6. Laura Goggin PhotographyJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:26 PM

    Someone please warn the lonely little person in the photo that they're in the sights of the death ray...

    ReplyDelete
  7. WaxJanuary 15, 2014 at 3:24 PM

    Such an ugly building! May the death star building bring bad luck to IBM!

    ReplyDelete
  8. 4:13 pmJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:13 PM

    Watch for enemy fighters. They're coming in! Three marks at 2-10! Stay on target. Stay on target.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2014 at 4:51 PM

    Watson come to the Dark Side. You will learn the true power of the Dark Side.

    ReplyDelete
  10. 51 Astor PlaceFebruary 1, 2014 at 4:50 PM

    Funny, I don't feel full.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2014 at 10:26 AM

    I sincerely hope it's not renamed the IBM Watson Building, since St. John's is also moving their Manhattan campus there ---

    ReplyDelete

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