The lobby, a column-free space, with ceilings that rise from 40 to 70 feet, has been conceived as a town square.

And for maximum efficiency, companies want wide expanses of column-free space, something that new buildings can provide.

Often they also require high ceilings and open, column-free space that is at a premium in Manhattan.

The vast, column-free space was designed for exhibitions, and the building, as is, has years of life left in it.

That, in turn, may help the area's older buildings, since few small companies require column-free space or huge floor plates.

That permitted the construction of another column-free space three levels below.

The arena floor contains 25,000 square feet of column-free space, large enough to accommodate 150 exhibit booths or a 1,800 seat banquet.

Its centerpiece is a column-free space, 200 by 100 feet.

The 84 exterior column transfers exist because of the owner's requirement for a column-free space.

"We had two large column-free spaces above and below the lobby area," he said.