Cohen completes leases at 623 Fifth Avenue.

Real estate owner/developer Charles S. Cohen has reported that over 30,000 square feet of new leases have already been signed at 623 Fifth Avenue, the world class office building (formerly known as Swiss Bank Tower) that he acquired last year and has repositioned for multi-tenant occupancy.

The distinguished 36-story, 370,000 square foot office building, which is located above the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship department store, occupies one of midtown's premiere locations--midblock between Fifth and Madison Avenues with entrances on both 49th and 50th Streets.

According to Cohen, among the prestigious companies that recently committed to space in his tower was financial giant Washington Mutual Capital Corp., which leased the entire 14,486 square foot 17th floor for a trading operation. James Quinn and Duncan McQuag of Cushman & Wakefield represented Washington Mutual in the long-term lease while the landlord was represented by Stephen J. Riker and Jim Frederick of Colliers ABR, Inc.

Two other high-profile financial companies have also signed long-term leases at 623 Fifth Avenue. Chicago-based Nuveen Investments, represented by Bob Goodman of Grubb & Ellis, took a portion of the 24th floor comprising 4,400 square feet while Credit Suisse First Boston leased 3,915 square feet on the 29th,floor. Michael Nahmias of Cohen Brothers represented the landlord in the Nuveen transaction.

In two other leases involving financial services firms, Boston-based Adams, Harkness & Hill, represented by Mark Furst of Colliers ABR, Inc. took 4,722 square feet comprising a portion of the 16th floor and Canton, Ohio-based Glass & Associates, represented by Chris Pachios of Colliers ABR, became the first user to lease one of 623 Fifth Avenue's attractively designed prebuilt Units--taking 3,700 square feet on the 15th floor. Messers, Riker and Frederick of Colliers ABR represented the landlord in both of these transactions.

"The response to our vision for 623 Fifth Avenue has been tremendous and we're delighted to welcome all of these outstanding financial services firms to our building," stated Cohen, who noted there were still many "extraordinary space opportunities" available at his refurbished tower, most of which the result of UBS vacating approximately 100,000 square feet when it moved to its new U.S. headquarters last year.