Inside Burberry’s 444 Madison deal

While fashion can make a statement, Daniel Horowitz, a Studley executive managing director, can be credited with teaching high-end clothier Burberry that real estate can make an even bigger one. After deciding to vacate its headquarters at 1350 Sixth Avenue near the corner of 55th Street in 2008, Burberry teamed up with commercial services firm Studley to create a visible, iconic presence in Midtown, something it lacked with stores in Soho and Uptown, according to the Observer. Burberry selected 68,348 square feet of office space in its new home at 444 Madison Avenue on the corner of 49th Street and opened two retail stores on the ground floor of the building. To top it off, a six-foot illuminated sign with Burberry’s name was installed on three sides. Horowitz explained that the deal was a coordinated effort to heighten Burberry’s visibility. “We gave them the identity they needed,” Horowitz said of the deal. “So the building is effectively considered the Burberry building.” [NYO]