Orbital, an artificial intelligence platform designed to support real estate lawyers, is moving its Manhattan office a few blocks north. The company has signed an 11,185-square-foot lease for the entire sixth floor of the Kaufman Organization's building at 40 West 25th Street.
This move is from 18 West 18th Street, which previously served as a temporary office, as confirmed by tenant broker JLL. No immediate details were provided regarding the exact rent amount or the lease term. According to a CBRE report, the average asking rent for offices in Midtown South was $85.73 per square foot in the second quarter of 2026.
Strategic Expansion and Location Choice
Valentin Stobetsky of JLL, who represented the tenant alongside Evan Margolin, stated in a comment: “Orbital sought an office that could support the company's next phase of growth while also helping to attract and retain the right talent.” He added that they worked closely with the team to find a space that met operational requirements and offered the accessibility, energy, and amenities valued by employees. The full floor at 40 West 25th Street provides this ideal combination.
The landlord was represented by Grant Greenspan and Michael Kaufman of Kaufman Investments, a division of the Kaufman Organization, which owns the building with AXA Insurance. Orbital was founded in 2018 and has additional offices in Los Angeles and London. According to JLL, the company supports over 250,000 real estate transactions annually.
New York as a Central Hub
Will Pearce, CEO and Co-founder of Orbital, stated in a comment: “New York is at the heart of America's legal and real estate industries, making it a natural headquarters for Orbital as we continue to build technology specifically designed for this asset class, reshaping how real estate transactions get done.”
Other tenants in the twelve-story building include vintage clothing retailer Hearts of Gold, which signed a 6,671-square-foot lease in 2023. Kaufman and AXA acquired the landmark building in 2020 for $48.5 million.
Grant Greenspan, a Principal at Kaufman, commented: “Orbital's decision to locate at 40 West 25th Street reflects the growing demand we are seeing from AI and technology-driven companies for high-quality space in established, amenity-rich neighbourhoods.”
