George Comfort & Sons, Inc. announced today that it has finalized a new long-term lease agreement with Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. at 498 Seventh Avenue, its fully modernized Midtown office tower.
With 95,000 employees and more than 500 branch managers, Securitas USA is the most locally-focused security company in the country. Under the 10-year lease, the firm will establish its New York office in 19,500 square feet across a portion of the 14th floor, following its three-block move from 1412 Broadway, in the fourth quarter of 2023.
“We have revitalized 498 Seventh Avenue to provide companies with a stylish and convenient home base for their employees,” said George Comfort & Sons President and CEO Peter S. Duncan. “We are pleased to welcome Securitas, which was drawn to 498 Seventh Avenue’s efficient floorplates, natural light and the investments we’ve made to position the tower as a premier office environment in an ideal Midtown location.”
With this lease signing, George Comfort & Sons has raised the occupancy level at 498 Seventh Avenue to 96 percent. The reimagined tower has become a magnet for leading companies in the professional services industry including engineering firm Cosentini Associates, construction specialists Milrose Consultants, design firm Dattner Architects, design and construction firm The McKissack Group and environmental services company Hazen and Sawyer.
Working with renowned global design and architecture firm Gensler, ownership has reinvigorated the building’s ground floor to create a more cohesive experience for tenants and guests right from the moment they approach the building. New entrances on Seventh Avenue, 37th Street and 36th Street now provide easy access from all directions to the through-block lobby, which has been elegantly redesigned with modern stone and granite finishes.
George Comfort also created a brand new business lounge and café with grab-and-go coffee kiosk operated by Ground Central Coffee accessible from the main lobby. In addition, retail storefronts at the base of the building have been refreshed, and destination dispatch elevators as well as new turnstiles with facial recognition for touchless entry have been installed.
The tower’s limited availabilities include the entire 30,000-square-foot 21st floor and a 6,200-square-foot high-end prebuilt suite that features direct elevator access and light-filled workspaces overlooking Seventh Avenue.
Andrew Conrad and Matt Coudert represented George Comfort & Sons in-house, while David Opper & Eddie Sisca of CBRE represented the tenant.
Owned by a partnership of George Comfort & Sons, Inc., Loeb Partners Realty and JR AMC, the 25-story, 960,000-square-foot tower sits just a few blocks north of Penn Station, with convenient access to subway and commuter lines as well as multiple dining and retail options.
