This full-floor loft in the iconic Strand building is every founder’s dream

Style is cyclical, and that’s never more true than when it comes to architecture.

Ten years ago, tech companies wanted floor-to-ceiling windows and brand-new buildings for their headquarters, but today’s founders prefer history and character. That’s why companies including Kargo and the Robin Hood Foundation have set up shop in the historic Strand Building at 826 Broadway in the heart of Manhattan. We spoke with Keith Copley of Nest Seekers International about how The Strand Building is the perfect headquarters for the next generation of founders.

Steeped in history

Sitting at the corner of Broadway and East 12th Street, the iconic Strand Building was designed in 1902 by William H. Birkmire, one of the early pioneers of steel-framed skyscraper construction. Since its completion, the 11-story Renaissance Revival landmark has become a symbol of timeless design.

“This building tells a story,” says Copley. “Our clients in tech and design aren’t just looking for space, they’re looking for a sense of identity, a place with soul.”

Birkmire was no ordinary architect. A protégé of Samuel Sloan and a published authority on modern steel construction, his contributions to the field shaped the DNA of modern New York. His work at Cornell Iron Works, along with groundbreaking publications like The Planning and Construction of High Office Buildings, helped establish the structural vocabulary for Manhattan’s vertical growth. Alongside other landmarks such as 826 Broadway, the Jackson Building in Union Square, and 225 West End Avenue, Birkmire’s imprint remains both aesthetic and structural.

“It’s like Birkmire designed this building for 21st-century visionaries without knowing it,” says Copley. “There’s an energy here that fuels innovation, it’s not just preserved, it’s alive.”

Legacy never goes out of style

The movement toward leasing space in landmarks like The Strand Building marks a broader tectonic shift as today’s most visionary companies trade glass boxes for buildings with history, texture and a tangible connection to the city’s creative roots. Across SoHo and downtown Manhattan, major tech firms are gravitating to historic buildings over glass towers. 

Andreessen Horowitz recently doubled their footprint at 200 Lafayette. Warby Parker built out a flagship office at One Soho Square. OpenAI and Thrive Capital both made homes in the landmarked Puck Building. Even Google has leaned into adaptive reuse with its East Coast HQ at St. John’s Terminal.

Few buildings, however, offer the unique alignment of The Strand Building: architectural pedigree, cultural legacy (it’s been home to the Strand Bookstore since 1956), and flexible floorplates ideal for tech, design or media firms.

“Square footage is measured in feet, but impact is measured in legacy,” says Copley. “The Strand has been home to makers, thinkers and visionaries for over a century. It’s where steel met story, where literature met commerce, and now, where technology meets identity. For the founders shaping what’s next, there’s no better place to begin.”

The founder’s agent

Executives relocating their companies turn to Copley to find them the perfect spot. The experienced broker knows more than commercial real estate; he’s also a downtown luxury residential authority widely known as the “King of SoHo.” 

For example, he currently represents a standout loft at 129 Greene Street #3AB, a quintessential SoHo residence in a highly coveted building. With over $1 billion in sales on Greene Street alone, Copley has cemented his reputation as the go-to broker for founders and creatives seeking spaces that blend luxury, functionality, and architectural character. 

Credit: Nest Seekers International

“Founders want more than just space, they want inspiration,” says Copley. “Lofts like 129 Greene Street aren’t just homes, they’re creative launchpads for the next big idea.”

His current listing at The Strand Building—the entire 6th floor—is a rare offering: 12,700 RSF with 36 windows, 11-foot ceilings, and six enclosed conference rooms, all wrapped in the prestige of landmarked architectural heritage.

With its architectural pedigree, cultural significance, and full-floor layout ready for customization, The Strand Building is more than an address; it’s a legacy. For founders looking to scale in style, The Strand offers the kind of identity-driven space that fuels vision, attracts talent, and tells the world you’ve arrived.

Reach out to Copley to learn more about this unique listing.

Source: https://therealdeal.com/sponsored/nestseekers/this-full-floor-loft-in-the-iconic-strand-building-is-every-founders-dream/