Vedder Leases 49,000 Square Feet at 1221 Sixth
The media company will relocate from 1633 Broadway to the former McGraw-Hill building in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Commercial
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Vedder has signed a long-term lease for 49,000 square feet covering the entire 34th floor of 1221 Sixth Avenue. The company will move from its current space at 1633 Broadway in 2027.
Why it matters
The deal pushes the former McGraw-Hill building, which totals 2.6 million square feet, to 98% leased. It adds to a pattern of sustained demand for large office floors in Midtown Manhattan.
Vedder's 49,000 square foot lease covers the full 34th floor at 1221 Sixth Avenue. The building's landlord, Rockefeller Group, has reported the property at 98% occupancy following the deal, though lease rates and term length were not disclosed.
The players
Vedder
A company that signed a 49,000 square foot lease at 1221 Sixth Avenue and will relocate its operations there from 1633 Broadway.
Rockefeller Group
The real estate firm that owns 1221 Sixth Avenue, the former McGraw-Hill headquarters, and is now pursuing tenants for the building's sunken retail plaza.
The details
A Savills team represented Vedder, while a Cushman & Wakefield team led by Robert Lowe represented the landlord, Rockefeller Group. Separately, NBC Universal renewed its lease on 200,000 square feet at the building earlier this year, and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse has operated there for 20 years.
Timeline
Earlier this year: NBC Universal renewed its lease on 200,000 square feet at 1221 Sixth Avenue.
2027: Vedder moves from 1633 Broadway to 1221 Sixth Avenue.
Market Landscape
Large-floor leases in legacy Midtown towers continue to shape Manhattan's commercial market, with landlords competing to fill vacated corporate headquarters. Deals like this one at 1221 Sixth Avenue show that well-located, large-block space remains in demand as tenants reposition their footprints.
For New Yorkers tracking Midtown's office market, the deal signals that large-floor space in well-located towers is being absorbed rather than left vacant. Brokers and tenants weighing space in the area can treat the 98% occupancy figure as a sign that availability in this building is tightening.
The takeaway
Large, well-positioned office floors in Manhattan are still leasing, and a building reaching 98% occupancy suggests tenants with space needs should move early in the market. Companies planning relocations can use deals like this one to gauge how quickly prime Midtown space is being taken.
What happens next
Vedder is scheduled to move from 1633 Broadway into 1221 Sixth Avenue in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more commercial real estate news in New York City to see how office leasing is shifting across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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