Building owner MetLife was represented in the 48,228-sf renewal by Frank Doyle, international director, Cynthia Wasserberger, SVP, and Amanda Saltzman, analyst, all with JLL's New York City office. The tenant, Barney's Inc., was represented by Barry Gosin, principal, Neal Golden, senior EVP, and Ross Perlman, associate director, with Newmark Knight Frank.

"Barney's had many options in the marketplace, but chose to renew its office space at 575 Fifth Ave., given its long-term tenancy in the building," Doyle says. "The building is ideally located along the epicenter of Fifth Avenue. MetLife has committed to a capital improvement program at 575 Fifth Ave. this year. The renovation will include a Moed, D'Armas & Shannon and Gensler-designed lobby and the repositioning of a significant block of multilevel retail space along Fifth Avenue."

Barney's renewed its lease for 15 years, occupying the entire 10th and 11th floors at the property. The building is located between East 46th and East 47th streets. Neighboring tenants at 575 Fifth Avenue include L'Oreal USA, Westpac Banking Corp., and Key Bank N.A.

Engineering firm Flack & Kurtz Inc. took 50,000 sf at the 677,500-sf class A 500-512 Seventh Ave. office building. The subtenant was represented by John Ryan, managing director, with JLL's New York City office. The sublandlord, iVillage Inc., was represented by David Rosenbloom of Cushman & Wakefield Inc. The building is owned by 500-512 Seventh Avenue LP, and is located between West 37th and West 38th streets.

"Engineering firms such as Flack & Kurtz and other professional services firms are looking for low-cost space with wide-open spaces," Ryan says. "The company searched Lower Manhattan for appropriate offices but found a great deal in Midtown that was close to its existing offices at 475 Fifth Ave."

The company will occupy the entire 14th floor of the building and is relocating from its existing offices at 475 Fifth Ave., where it had been based for the past 16 years. While the engineering firm's new offices are approximately 9,000 sf larger than its space at its previous location, it was able to house the entire company on the 14th floor at 500-512 Seventh Ave. Flack & Kurtz occupied three full floors at 475 Fifth Ave. Neighboring tenants at 500-512 Seventh Ave. include Answerthink Inc., Daniel Frankfurt P.C., Dayton Hudson Corp. and NY Times Digital.

JLL also has been tapped to lease four floors of office space totaling 130,000 sf at SL Green's 1515 Broadway. The team overseeing the assignment will be led by Frank Doyle, international director, and includes Cynthia Wasserberger, Edward DiTolla and David Kleiner, SVPs, all with the company's New York City office. The property, also known as One Astor Plaza, is located in Times Square between West 44th and West 45th streets.

JLL sources tell GlobeSt.com that asking rents at 1515 Broadway for the four floors is $82 per sf. "This building offers a tremendous opportunity for tenants looking for full floors of office space with an existing above-standard installation," Doyle says. The property at "1515 Broadway, provides an ideal column-free floor plate for a law firm or financial services company. SL Green is planning a $150 million capital program to upgrade the building to include a new glass facade, a new lobby and new elevators."

JLL will lease and market the 11th floor through the 15th floor for the REIT. The space is occupied by Viacom International, which will vacate all four floors by Aug. 2008.