Currently, about 4.5 million square feet of new transactions are at a level of serious discussion, according to Clark. “At this early stage, we think we are well on our way to achieving that leasing goal,” he said.

Last year, Brookfield leased 10.1 million square feet of office space throughout its US portfolio, about two million square feet or 22% higher than its top year in 2007. In the fourth quarter alone, New York City saw nearly one million square feet of transactions, including a 767,000-square-foot renewal for Bank of America/Merrill Lynch at the World Financial Center and a new 45,000-square-foot lease for Getco at One Liberty Plaza.

At the same time, the company is working to fill the space left behind by financial services firm Nomura Holding America Inc., which will be leaving Two World Financial Center in mid-2013 for a 900,000-square-foot space at Worldwide Plaza in Midtown. Clark added that Brookfield has made “good progress” advancing leasing discussions both at One New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan and 75 State St. in Boston’s CBD.

“On the financial services side, while the news has been kind of negative on what these firms are doing in light of certain governmental requirements and also given the cost-cutting measures going on, the motivation is really about operating efficiency and cost-cutting and it’s definitely not focused on growth,” Clark said. “Our properties are well-suited to accommodate this initiative, particularly in New York City.”

On the sales side, Brookfield has recycled capital from non-strategic assets by selling 53 State St. in Boston for $610 million and Newport Tower in Jersey City for $377 million. The company also reinvested into new opportunistic investments, including a 51% interest in 1801 California St. in Denver for $215 million and a 49% interest in Four World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan for $264 million.