Most Landlords Get Office Design Wrong - Rod Kritsberg

On this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, Gordon Lamphere sits down with Rod Kritsberg, a New York-based developer and fund manager behind some of Manhattan’s most ambitious boutique office transformations. Rod shares how his team identifies overlooked architectural gems in high-barrier neighborhoods like SoHo and the West Village and turns them into fully reimagined, institutional-grade office properties.

They discuss why “location and build quality are the only amenities that matter,” how outdated zoning maps create hidden opportunities, and what most developers get wrong about tenant demand and deal structuring. From building tours in hazmat suits during the pandemic to navigating the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Rod walks through the real challenges (and upside) of high-design office development in dense urban cores.

▶ Topics covered:

- How Rod transitioned from apartment rentals to boutique commercial development

- What makes 132 West 14th a model for post-COVID office redevelopment

- Why most office amenities are “BS”—and what tenants really want instead

- Spec building, capital stacks, and the real economics behind boutique assets

- NYC’s broken zoning map and the next big shift in Midtown South

- High ceilings, custom glass, marble kitchens, and other overlooked design details

- What young CRE professionals should know about sales, rejection, and persistence

- Rod’s long-term outlook: energy infrastructure, adaptive reuse, and the return of high-end office

Whether you’re leasing 10,000 square feet in SoHo or converting a legacy office in your hometown, this is a crash course in what it really takes to build for the next generation of users.