Aetna to Relocate HQ to Manhattan

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The health care insurance giant will move its headquarters from Hartford, Conn., to Vornado Realty Trust's upcoming 61 Ninth Ave., a Class A office building targeted for completion this year.

By Corina Stef

Sixty One, New York City

61 Ninth Ave., New York City

Fortune 50 company Aetna will relocate its headquarters from Hartford, Conn., a longtime hub of the insurance industry, to Manhattan’s Chelsea district. The move will generate 250 new jobs, fueled by Empire State Development’s $24 million in performance-based tax credits that will be delivered over 10 years.

The new headquarters will be located at 61 Ninth Ave., a 145,000-square-foot Class A office building under development at the northwest corner of Ninth Avenue and 15th Street. Owned by Vornado Realty Trust and designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the property is scheduled for completion later in 2017. The building will include 14.5-foot ceiling heights and an energy-efficient design. Additionally, the building will feature premier ground-floor retail space and will house the largest Starbucks store in the world. Aetna will also invest $84 million in building fit-outs and equipment.

Inside the tech hub

The asset is situated at the intersection of Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and Chelsea submarkets, bounded by retailers, eateries, bars, art galleries and parks. Google’s Manhattan Campus and Apple’s Meatpacking store are also adjacent to the building.  

New York City is a knowledge economy hub, and a driver of the innovations that will play a significant part in our ongoing transformation. Many of the roles in our new office will be filled by innovators from the area’s deep talent pool, which will be an invaluable resource as we consider additional investments in the city going forward,” Aetna Chairman & CEO Mark Bertolini said in a prepared statement.

Image courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust