Banco Santander Central Hispano.

Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH), Spain's largest bank, has appointed Cushman & Wakefield as exclusive lease agent to sublet a total of 280,000 square feet of prime Manhattan office space.

BSCH has a total 198,000 square feet at 1251 Avenue of the Americas. Floors 16, 17 and 34 to 36 are available for immediate occupancy. Mitsui Fudosan  is the building owner. Also available for lease are 48,000 square feet available at 50 Broadway, owned by Taconic Partners; and 31,575 square feet at 1301 Avenue of the Americas, owned by Tishman Speyer Properties.

As part of its corporate strategy, BSCH has consolidated its operations into one location at 45 East 53rd Street. The lease term is for just under 15 years at 1251 Avenue of the Americas and 50 Broadway and short term at 1304 Avenue of the Americas.

Cushman & Wakefield's Stuart I. Romanoff, executive director, and Mitchell Arkin, director, were named exclusive subleasing agent by BSCH. "With a lack of quality, large blocks of office space in Midtown, the block at 1251 Avenue of the Americas offers an ideal opportunity for a mid to large sized tenant to occupy a substantial amount of contiguous space at a premier location," Romanoff.

Arkin added, "This is an extremely exciting assignment- to be awarded by such a prestigious international bank in one of Midtown Manhattan's premiere office buildings."