Stephen Siegel and Scott Gottlieb

Manhattan’s office market might’ve been battered in 2023, but Stephen Siegel and Scott Gottlieb still emerged with plenty of deals.

The duo inked about 3.1 million square feet of leases last year, thanks in part to a big boost from a “highly unusual” rash of activity from long-term client the State of New York itself, Siegel said.

But it wasn’t just state government deals the pair relied on. They also secured a number of deals at 550 Madison Avenue, 51 West 52nd Street and 590 Madison Avenue; and represented CBS in its 186,882-square-foot renewal at 555 West 57th Street.

“Considering the environment, considering the economy, considering the back-to-work issues … we did a lot of transactions, which proves that corporations [want return to office] to happen,” Siegel said.

The pair also have a lot on deck in 2024, with about 1 million square feet signed between both of them so far this year and another couple of million square feet in the works. And New York State, too, has about six “very large” deals in the works this year, Siegel said. But the new saying “Stay Alive Till ‘25” is ringing truer for Siegel, who expects the office market to really rebound next year.

“Better years are coming, which makes me very happy,” he said. “And it makes my wife happy with her Saks card.”

Outside of transactions, Siegel was quick to point out some of the philanthropic works he and Gottlieb are a part of, with Siegel and his wife heavily involved in fundraising for the Gift of Life Marrow Registry and Gottlieb serving on the board of a Washington Heights charter school.

“I put a lot of credence on that,” Siegel said of the philanthropy. “As I look around my industry, it seems less and less important and it’s all about the numbers.”