CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ PARTNER'S CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest	First Industrial L.P.	First Industrial L.P. General Partner Preferred Units	First Industrial L.P. General Partner Units	First Industrial L.P. Limited Partner Units	First Industrial L.P. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	First Industrial L.P. Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,145,653	$ 988	$ 1,785,213	$ (676,265)	$ (6,557)	$ 42,274
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012							$ 1,156,257	$ 217,971	$ 859,727	$ 84,282	$ (6,829)	$ 1,106
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Common Stock / General Partner Units, Net of Issuance Costs	173,785	107	173,678				173,785		173,785
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(150,051)		(144,384)	(5,667)
Redemption of Preferred Units							(144,384)	(144,384)
Stock Based Compensation Activity	4,532	4	5,476	(948)
Stock Based Compensation Activity							4,532		4,532
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	1	995			(996)	0		996	(996)
Reallocation—Additional Paid in Capital	0		(3,369)			3,369
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(38,862)			(37,288)		(1,574)
Common Unit Distributions							(38,862)		(37,288)	(1,574)
Preferred Dividends / Unit Distributions	(8,733)			(8,733)			(14,400)	(14,400)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							177					177
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(229)					(229)
Net Income	41,428			40,307		1,121	41,474	14,400	25,912	1,121		41
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				(31)	31
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3,467				3,323	144	3,467				3,467
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,171,219	1,100	1,817,609	(688,594)	(3,265)	44,369
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013							1,181,817	73,587	1,027,664	82,833	(3,362)	1,095
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of Preferred Stock	(75,049)		(73,587)	(1,462)
Redemption of Preferred Units							(73,587)	(73,587)
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,948	4	4,880	(1,936)
Stock Based Compensation Activity							2,948		2,948
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	2	2,153			(2,155)	0		2,155	(2,155)
Reallocation—Additional Paid in Capital	0		4			(4)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(47,263)			(45,447)		(1,816)
Common Unit Distributions							(47,263)		(45,447)	(1,816)
Preferred Dividends / Unit Distributions	(1,019)			(1,019)			(2,481)	(2,481)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							335					335
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(422)					(422)
Net Income	51,005			49,110		1,895	51,257	2,481	46,809	1,895		72
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				(16)	16
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(11,014)				(10,586)	(428)	(11,014)				(11,014)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,090,827	1,106	1,751,059	(689,348)	(13,867)	41,877
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014							1,101,590	0	1,034,129	80,757	(14,376)	1,080
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Stock Based Compensation Activity	2,243	4	4,656	(2,417)
Stock Based Compensation Activity							2,243		2,243
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	1	672			(673)	0		673	(673)
Reallocation—Additional Paid in Capital	0		28			(28)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(59,014)			(56,796)		(2,218)
Common Unit Distributions							(59,014)		(56,796)	(2,218)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest							67					67
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							(189)					(189)
Net Income	76,705			73,802		2,903	76,820		73,779	2,903		138
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0				(8)	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	4,374				4,208	166	4,333				4,333
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,115,135	$ 1,111	$ 1,756,415	$ (674,759)	$ (9,667)	$ 42,035
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015							$ 1,125,850	$ 0	$ 1,054,028	$ 80,769	$ (10,043)	$ 1,096