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.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

Deathstar forever!

Anonymous said...

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

Gojira said...

Elementary, my dear Death Star.

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

Name those adapted quotes!

vzabuser said...

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."

Laura Goggin Photography said...

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

Wax said...

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

4:13 pm said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

51 Astor Place said...

Funny, I don't feel full.

Anonymous said...

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