Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.

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Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks paid or offered to be paid in a business combination.

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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

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Amount of equity interests of the acquirer, including instruments or interests issued or issuable in consideration for the business combination.

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Amount of liabilities incurred by the acquirer as part of consideration transferred in a business combination.

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Fair value at acquisition-date of the equity interest in the acquiree held by the acquirer, immediately before the acquisition date for businesses combined in stages.

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This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

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Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 15, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Oct. 07, 2013 USD ($) entity	Oct. 06, 2013 USD ($) entity	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 06, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, consideration transferred	$ 733,600
Number of entities acquired \| entity		4	4
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities				$ 322,563		$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill						$ 491,479	$ 491,479
111 West 33rd Street (formerly 112 West 34th Street) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, consideration transferred	423,600
Debt assumed	87,700
Cash payments to acquire business	106,900
Business combination, consideration transferred, equity interests issued and issuable	$ 229,000
Share price (usd per share) \| $ / shares	$ 16.65
Location 1400 Broadway [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, consideration transferred	$ 310,000
Debt assumed	80,000
Cash payments to acquire business	79,700
Business combination, consideration transferred, equity interests issued and issuable	$ 150,300
Share price (usd per share) \| $ / shares	$ 16.65
Total Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, consideration transferred		$ 1,171,841
Debt assumed	$ 167,684	124,354
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities		214,300
Goodwill		491,479
Empire State Building Observatory Operations [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		227,500
Empire State Building [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		250,800
1333 Broadway Associates [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities		41,000
1350 Broadway Associates [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities		32,100
Empire State Building Company L.L.C. and 501 Seventh Avenue Associates L.L.C. [Member] [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities		35,200
501 Seventh Avenue [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 13,200
Predecessor [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on consolidation of non-controlled entities					$ 0
Noncontrolling interest ownership interest fair value			$ 302,700
Noncontrolling interest ownership interest cost			$ 88,400		$ 88,400
Predecessor [Member] \| Empire State Building Co. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			23.75%		23.75%
Predecessor [Member] \| 1333 Broadway Associates [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			50.00%		50.00%
Predecessor [Member] \| 1350 Broadway Associates [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			50.00%		50.00%
Predecessor [Member] \| 501 Seventh Avenue [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			20.469%		20.469%
Common Class A [Member] \| 111 West 33rd Street (formerly 112 West 34th Street) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	1,217,685
Common Class A [Member] \| Location 1400 Broadway [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	1,338,488
Common Class B [Member] \| 111 West 33rd Street (formerly 112 West 34th Street) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	77,945
Common Class B [Member] \| Location 1400 Broadway [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	32,452
Series ES Operating Partnership Units [Member] \| 111 West 33rd Street (formerly 112 West 34th Street) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	12,457,379
Share price (usd per share) \| $ / shares	$ 16.65
Series ES Operating Partnership Units [Member] \| Location 1400 Broadway [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares \| shares	7,658,516
Share price (usd per share) \| $ / shares	$ 16.65