Ranked among the top independent leading PR and communications firms in the nation by O’Dwyer’s, PadillaCRT is moving from Midtown South to 4 WTC’s 48th floor in early 2016. Over the next 15 years, the firm will lease the remaining 14,639 feet of space on the 48th floor of the Midtown Manhattan tower according to 4 WTC’s landlord, Silverstein Properties. Reliable commercial rental sources report prices at 4 WTC beginning in the low $70 range per square foot. “A move to 4 WTC is a proud moment for our agency. This building and the forward-thinking artistry of Silverstein Properties is synonymous with our agency’s vision and commitment to doing business in this great city.” Lynn Casey, the chair and CEO of PadillaCRT said in a statement through Silverstein Properties’ website. PadillaCRT represents top brand clients throughout the nation having additional office locations in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Richmond, Norfolk, and Washington DC. A sampling of PadillaCRT’s clientele includes 3M – BASF – Cargill – Ditch Witch – Girl Scouts of the USA – Hass Avocado Board – and Land O’Lakes. Additional clients are – Merck – Rockwell Automation – RTI Surgical – SAP – UnitedHealth Group – U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council – and Wines from Rioja (Spain). The agency specializes in branding talent, product research, corporate and investor relations, and social media communications. They are also well-known for founding WORDLCOM Public Relations Group – a partnership of 100 privately owned PR firms with 155 offices throughout six continents. Their CEO, Lynn Casey is an outspoken leader of the PR industry, and with nearly 200 employees and revenues in the U.S. at approximately $31,625,000 they are an independent agency to be reckoned with. The firm has made a number of acquisitions over the years and describes one of their specialities as “delivering fresh ideas that inspire action among consumers, investors, employees, community leaders and other people pivotal to our clients' success.” The agency is around for more than 50 years – a remarkably long time for an independent agency. To date, 4 WTC landlord – Silverstein Properties – has signed leases to occupy 62 percent of the tower, a total of 1.36 million square feet. Morningstar, an investment research and reporting agency, occupies the remaining 30,000 square feet on the 48th floor of the tower. The City of New York and the Port Authority of New York are anchors of the tower leasing 602,208 and 650,621 square feet, respectively. Other notable tenants of the 4 WTC tower include MediaMath, Silver Suites Offices, Syntactx, and Dixon Hughes Goodman. The tower at 4 WTC was designed by Fumihiko Maki, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect. He has implemented a model of efficiency and transparency meeting LEED Gold standards of sustainability. The tower is 977 feet tall with 56 floors containing 2.3 million square feet of light-filled, high-tech office space. Designed to complement and enhance Midtown’s streetscape, the tower will occupy a high concentration of retail space at street level. The building is also designed to function within underground concourses leading pedestrians to and from a total of 11 subway lines as well as PATH trains. Easy ingress and egress to 4 WTC will also be complemented by the World Trade Center Transit Hub set to open this year. We want to wish Padilla-CRT only success as an independent agency in the World Trade Center.
