NEW YORK CITY-Empire State Building Associates LLC, the Malkin Holdings LLC that owns the iconic Manhattan tower, said in an SEC filing Tuesday that it may file to become a real estate investment trust. Malkin “has embarked on a course of action that could result in the company becoming part of a newly formed public REIT,” according to the filing.

Malkin also said in the filing that for legal reasons, it is not in a position to disclose more information until further documents are filed in about three months. There was no further comment. A company representative could not be reached in time for this story.

The Malkin family has owned the 2.9-million-square-foot office building since 2002. In September 2011, the 80-year-old building earned LEED gold for Existing Buildings, thanks in part to a $550 million retrofit completed in partnership with Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle. Improvements here include building-wide mechanical, security and electrical systems, as well as a new art deco lobby and ceiling, new messenger center, restrooms, air-conditioned public corridors, marble elevator cabs and 6,500 new windows.