Daniel Moore (left), Brandi Hanback (top right) and Marisa Gadlin.
Daniel Moore, Brandi Hanback and Marisa Gadlin
President and CEO; executive vice president and head of development; senior vice president and head of core holdings at Rockefeller Group
New markets, new lease deals, and good work from solid teams across the company helped to define a strong year for Rockefeller Group.
The firm’s national development platform faced macroeconomic disruptions but maintained its long-term growth strategies, Brandi Hanback said. Rockefeller expanded within existing regions and into new markets like the Rocky Mountains and Texas.
“We have three projects under construction in Texas, which was a new market for us as part of the Southwest regional expansion and establishment,” she said. “Across the board, we have about $6 billion now in terms of active projects that are under development of almost 20 million square feet. Some of those new markets are really fueling that growth.”
Rockefeller’s main portfolio saw significant leasing activity in 2024, including at the end of the year when law firm Mayer Brown renewed and expanded its presence to 330,662 square feet at 1221 Avenue of the Americas.
“We ended 2024 on a really high note, because we were able to sign Mayer Brown to an expansion. And then rolling into 2025, basically all of the remaining space, except for about 70,000 square feet, is spoken for,” Marisa Gadlin said of 1221 A of A.
The firm did face challenges throughout the year, including a delayed capital markets recovery and leasing pressures in some areas. Despite these uncertainties, the team remains optimistic about the direction in which Rockefeller is heading.
“When I look at what we aspire to be and where I think we’re capable of going, the analogy that I use is I feel like we’re in the low part of second gear,” CEO Daniel Moore said. “The exciting part with Marisa leading our core portfolio, and Brandi leading our development business nationally, is what does it look like as we start to shift into third and fourth? So much of the last few years has been about getting the organization in a place where we can really start to lean into what it is that we’re capable of, and we’re right there at that point right now.”
