The Challenges and Rewards of Managing a Pre-War Trophy Building in NYC

One Grand Central Place is an architectural jewel rising 55 stories from the center of the Grand Central District. Originally opened in 1930, the 49th tallest building in Manhattan (tied with the Barclay Tower) was designed by the architect James Edwin Ruthven Carpenter, Jr., and rises 673 feet opposite the venerable yet lively Grand Central Terminal.

Thanks to an $85 million dollar investment, its first-rate infrastructure has transformed it into a vibrant and contemporary business environment.  Tenants are attracted to One Grand Central Place for its convenient location, amenities, and modern energy efficient office installations.   Tenants and visitors enter a magnificently restored lobby, with many conveniences such as in-building banking, visitor center, messenger services, tenant-only multimedia conference center, and on-site dining.  The building boasts convenient in-building access to Grand Central Terminal, a major transportation hub with its multiple subways and Metro-North commuter rail lines.  All this is located with within a short walk of Bryant Park, an urban oasis.

One Grand Central Place has garnered both the 2007 BOMA-NY Award for Historical Building of the Year and a 2010 Pinnacle Award for Operating Building of the Year for its winning combination of white-glove tradition and impeccable service.

A Simple Management Philosophy - Always Exceed Expectations
Overseeing the management of this premier office location is the responsibility of Michael Prunty, Vice President of Property Management for Malkin Holdings. His management philosophy is simple: “Our goal is always to provide the best service possible and not only to meet, but also to exceed expectations - always. Our tenants appreciate our thorough and personalized approach, and the effort it takes to provide customized solutions. This is truly rewarding for us as a team, and also results in a high tenant retention rate.”

Along with satisfying day-to-day needs, Mr. Prunty and his staff must also anticipate tenant requirements to keep the building competitive by providing first class services and state of the art technologies. “We first do a lot of research on our own to anticipate our tenants’ requirements, and then we ask each tenant personally about their business needs,” says Mr. Prunty. “They know W&H Properties is strongly committed to bringing the best technology and functionality to our building, and providing technological solutions and choices to our tenants. Because our building prides itself on combining pre-war elegance with a state-of-the-art business environment, we are constantly enhancing and upgrading.”

Property Management: A Challenging and Rewarding Career Choice
Mr. Prunty finds property management a “dynamic” part of the “exciting, fast-paced” commercial real estate industry in the New York metropolitan area. “I think property management is a great career choice because there are new challenges every day,” says Mr. Prunty, and he finds that his B.S. in Finance from Boston University and M.S. in Real Estate from New York University serve him well.

“Today you have to know all facets of the business, including operations, leasing, accounting and finance, while at the same time understanding how to adhere to the highest standards of customer service. I look for individuals who are dedicated and knowledgeable and who can multi-task effectively. They must be energetic and positive, but most of all they must be absolutely reliable. Property management in our buildings is high energy and challenging, but also personally and professionally very rewarding.”

To experience One Grand Central Place, visit the building’s website at: http://www.onegrandcentralplace.com

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