Written by Calvin Bruwelheide, Associate @ Nomad

On a block that bridges Gramercy, NoMad, and Kips Bay, a century-old loft building has been reimagined for the future of work in New York City. At 137 East 25th Street, Republic Investment Company saw the opportunity to breathe new life into a Midtown South classic, not just with renovation, but with reinvention.

To bring that vision to life, Republic partnered with Nomad, aligning strategy, design, and execution. From brokerage positioning to architectural floorplans, from MEP coordination to curated furniture programming, the team orchestrated a transformation that feels modern, flexible, and distinctly New York.

From Outdated to Visionary

Republic Investment Company recognized that 137 East 25th Street’s historic structure could become a canvas for tomorrow’s workplace. Nomad approached the project not as a standard leasing assignment, but as a chance to unlock that potential.

Ownership and Nomad aligned on creating open, whiteboxed floors with lofty ceilings, sleek modern lighting, and layouts that maximize the building’s block-through footprint. Each 8,308-square-foot floor plate now supports collaboration, flexibility, and growth. A modern furniture program blends sophistication with adaptability, giving fast-growing companies the tools to scale without losing cohesion.

The result: a building that balances authenticity with forward-looking design, built for what’s next.

The Market Context

This kind of reinvention matters in 2025. Midtown South, once known for light manufacturing and publishing, has become one of the country’s most competitive office markets. Loft-style buildings drew tech firms in the 2010s, and today, the momentum continues.

Pinterest recently planted roots nearby at 11 Madison Avenue, joining UBS and Sony Music. The New York Life Building anchors Madison Square Park, while creative growth companies and institutional firms alike continue to gravitate toward the neighborhood.

A Neighborhood in Motion

Step outside 137 East 25th Street and the cultural rhythm of the city takes over. Madison Square Park, just minutes away, offers respite and public art. Eataly Flatiron bustles at lunch, Union Square Café and Upland invite after work, and cafés on nearly every corner fuel the day.

Unlike Midtown’s glass towers, this stretch of Manhattan thrives on creative energy and neighborhood intimacy. Baruch College, still a tenant within 137 East 25th Street, reinforces that blend of education, commerce, and community.

Connectivity and Culture

Accessibility is seamless. The 6 train at 23rd Street sits two blocks away; the N/R/W and F/M are within a five minute walk. The Citi Bike docks that line Park Avenue South and Madison Square Park, make the commute as bike-friendly as it is subway-friendly. With near-perfect Transit and Walk Scores, the building is as central as it is connected.

Equally important is its position as a bridge. Walk east from Madison Avenue toward Third, and you move from landmark towers to residential side streets, from legacy corporations to boutique agencies. 137 East 25th Street sits at the center of it all.

A Building That Evolves

From its early life serving manufacturers, to decades as a home for publishing and education, to today’s sleek modern offices, 137 East 25th Street has always evolved with the moment.

Republic Investment Company’s vision and Nomad’s execution have written the latest chapter, one that offers tenants more than square footage. It’s an experience: sunlight across open floors, the hum of Madison Square Park nearby, and a neighborhood alive with culture and commerce. At 137 East 25th Street, history and modernity meet, not just in design, but in daily life.