An iconic gem of New York City's skyline is the latest victim of the office collapse

• The Chrysler Building, a renowned gem of NYC, is the latest victim of the office apocalypse.
• Cooper Union, the property owner, told the Journal that RFR Holding owed $21 million in rent.

The Chrysler Building, a long-admired gem of New York City's skyline, could be the latest victim of the nationwide office collapse.

The lease between Cooper Union, which owns the land on which the building sits, and RFR Holding LLC was terminated last week, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Cooper Union, a private college in the city, told the Journal that RFR Holding had not paid its rent since May and owed it $21 million.

The website for RFR Holding, a private real estate management company, still features the Chrysler Building. The firm says it is "known for owning and managing some of Manhattan's most prestigious signature office properties, including 375 Park Avenue (The Seagram Building) and 405 Lexington (The Chrysler Building)." The firm says it has a "proven track record of adding significant value to acquired properties."

Business Insider could not immediately reach RFR Holding, Cooper Union, or their respective attorneys for comment on Thursday. But attorneys representing RFR told the Journal it intends to hold onto the building and is prepared to go to court if needed.

"While RFR prefers to resolve this matter amicably, and privately, if possible, it is also prepared for the alternative, if necessary," the lawyers, Terrence Oved and Darren Oved, told the Journal.

Commercial foreclosures have soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, which ushered in a monumental shift in workplace culture, launching the work-from-home and hybrid work era. The commercial office market has struggled to recover since. ATTOM, a real estate data provider, found foreclosures jumped 117% year-over-year from March 2023 to the same time this year.

The picture isn't any prettier if you zoom out. In May 2020, there were 141 commercial foreclosures. In June 2024, there were 647, a recent ATTOM report found. New York, along with California, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida, saw the most commercial foreclosures in June 2024, the report said. Morgan Stanley warned in February that office buildings were facing a 30% peak-to-trough correction in office prices.

Experts predicted the drop in office values could be as bad or worse than the 2008 crash. What that means for the iconic Chrysler Building — and the rest of the New York City skyline — remains to be seen.