CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	$ 76,705	$ 51,005	$ 41,428
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation	92,955	93,457	94,271
Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs	3,159	3,098	3,225
Other Amortization	28,359	30,218	30,632
Impairment of Real Estate	626	0	2,652
Provision for Bad Debt	954	1,425	726
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures	(55)	(3,499)	(136)
Distributions from Joint Ventures	0	1,881	177
Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(48,906)	(25,905)	(35,444)
Loss from Retirement of Debt	0	655	6,637
Settlement Loss and Mark-to-Market Gain on Interest Rate Protection Agreements	11,546	0	(52)
Increase in Tenant Accounts Receivable, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets, Net	(2,686)	(2,582)	(3,192)
Increase in Deferred Rent Receivable	(6,181)	(2,715)	(4,516)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses, Other Liabilities, Rents Received in Advance and Security Deposits	5,673	452	(5,679)
Payments of Premiums, Discounts and Prepayment Penalties Associated with Retirement of Debt	0	(10,650)	(4,978)
Cash Book Overdraft	0	336	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	162,149	137,176	125,751
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions of Real Estate	(168,122)	(96,045)	(73,642)
Additions to Investment in Real Estate and Non-Acquisition Tenant Improvements and Lease Costs	(150,079)	(123,037)	(114,806)
Net Proceeds from Sales of Investments in Real Estate	154,024	98,472	126,250
Contributions to and Investments in Joint Ventures	(200)	(31)	(38)
Distributions from Joint Ventures	126	2,475	104
Settlement of Interest Rate Protection Agreements	(11,546)	0	0
Repayments of Notes Receivable	2,760	49,761	615
(Increase) Decrease in Escrows	(24,037)	(664)	204
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(197,074)	(69,069)	(61,313)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Debt and Equity Issuance and Preferred Stock Redemption Costs	(5,158)	(2,419)	(3,575)
Proceeds from the Issuance of Common Stock, Net of Underwriter’s Discount	0	0	174,081
Repurchase and Retirement of Restricted Stock / Units	(2,101)	(4,667)	(2,968)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions Paid	(55,811)	(45,151)	(29,025)
Preferred Dividends Paid	0	(1,471)	(8,733)
Redemption of Preferred Stock / Units	0	(75,000)	(150,000)
Payments on Interest Rate Protection Agreements	0	0	(1,079)
Repayments on Mortgage Loans Payable	(35,004)	(77,880)	(85,680)
Repayments of Senior Unsecured Notes	0	(71,578)	(29,769)
Proceeds from Unsecured Term Loans	260,000	200,000	0
Proceeds from Unsecured Credit Facility	321,500	356,000	373,000
Repayments on Unsecured Credit Facility	(454,000)	(344,000)	(298,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	29,426	(66,166)	(61,748)
Net Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14)	(18)	(51)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(5,499)	1,941	2,690
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year	9,500	7,577	4,938
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year	3,987	9,500	7,577
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid, Net of Interest Expense Capitalized in Connection with Development Activity	66,452	70,194	70,726
Interest Expense Capitalized in Connection with Development Activity	2,453	1,411	3,611
Income Taxes Paid (Refunded)	23	(105)	5,433
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	14,812	11,949
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	0	0
Assumption of Liabilities in Connection with the Acquisition of Real Estate	2,090	364	483
Notes Receivable Issued in Conjunction with Certain Property Sales	0	0	12,520
Accounts Payable Related to Construction in Progress and Additions to Investment in Real Estate	25,747	14,901	15,249
Write-off of Fully Depreciated Assets	(45,457)	(44,769)	(62,281)
Noncontrolling Interest
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	2,903	1,895	1,121
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	(673)	(2,155)	(996)
Common Stock
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	1	2	1
Additional Paid-in- Capital
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	672	2,153	995
Common Stock
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the Issuance of Common Stock, Net of Underwriter’s Discount			132,050
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	14,812	11,949	9,837
Preferred Stock
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	0	0	452
First Industrial L.P.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	76,820	51,257	41,474
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation	92,955	93,457	94,271
Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs	3,159	3,098	3,225
Other Amortization	28,359	30,218	30,632
Impairment of Real Estate	626	0	2,652
Provision for Bad Debt	954	1,425	726
Equity in Income of Joint Ventures	(55)	(3,499)	(136)
Distributions from Joint Ventures	0	1,881	177
Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(48,906)	(25,905)	(35,444)
Loss from Retirement of Debt	0	655	6,637
Settlement Loss and Mark-to-Market Gain on Interest Rate Protection Agreements	11,546	0	(52)
Increase in Tenant Accounts Receivable, Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets, Net	(2,673)	(2,039)	(2,582)
Increase in Deferred Rent Receivable	(6,181)	(2,715)	(4,516)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses, Other Liabilities, Rents Received in Advance and Security Deposits	5,682	399	(5,676)
Payments of Premiums, Discounts and Prepayment Penalties Associated with Retirement of Debt	0	(10,650)	(4,978)
Cash Book Overdraft	0	336	0
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	162,286	137,918	126,410
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions of Real Estate	(168,122)	(96,045)	(73,642)
Additions to Investment in Real Estate and Non-Acquisition Tenant Improvements and Lease Costs	(150,079)	(123,037)	(114,806)
Net Proceeds from Sales of Investments in Real Estate	154,024	98,472	126,250
Contributions to and Investments in Joint Ventures	(200)	(31)	(38)
Distributions from Joint Ventures	126	2,475	104
Settlement of Interest Rate Protection Agreements	(11,546)	0	0
Repayments of Notes Receivable	2,760	49,761	615
(Increase) Decrease in Escrows	(24,037)	(1,319)	(409)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(197,074)	(69,724)	(61,926)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Debt and Equity Issuance and Preferred Stock Redemption Costs	(5,158)	(2,419)	(3,575)
Proceeds from the Issuance of Common Stock, Net of Underwriter’s Discount	0	0	174,081
Repurchase and Retirement of Restricted Stock / Units	(2,101)	(4,667)	(2,968)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions Paid	(55,811)	(45,151)	(29,025)
Preferred Dividends Paid	0	(1,471)	(8,733)
Redemption of Preferred Stock / Units	0	(75,000)	(150,000)
Payments on Interest Rate Protection Agreements	0	0	(1,079)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	67	335	177
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests	(189)	(422)	(229)
Repayments on Mortgage Loans Payable	(35,004)	(77,880)	(85,680)
Repayments of Senior Unsecured Notes	0	(71,578)	(29,769)
Proceeds from Unsecured Term Loans	260,000	200,000	0
Proceeds from Unsecured Credit Facility	321,500	356,000	373,000
Repayments on Unsecured Credit Facility	(454,000)	(344,000)	(298,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	29,304	(66,253)	(61,800)
Net Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14)	(18)	(51)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(5,484)	1,941	2,684
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year	9,485	7,562	4,929
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year	3,987	9,485	7,562
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest Paid, Net of Interest Expense Capitalized in Connection with Development Activity	66,452	70,194	70,726
Interest Expense Capitalized in Connection with Development Activity	2,453	1,411	3,611
Income Taxes Paid (Refunded)	23	(105)	5,433
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	14,812	11,949
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0	0	0
Assumption of Liabilities in Connection with the Acquisition of Real Estate	2,090	364	483
Notes Receivable Issued in Conjunction with Certain Property Sales	0	0	12,520
Accounts Payable Related to Construction in Progress and Additions to Investment in Real Estate	25,747	14,901	15,249
Write-off of Fully Depreciated Assets	(45,457)	(44,769)	(62,281)
First Industrial L.P. | Noncontrolling Interest
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	138	72	41
First Industrial L.P. | Limited Partner Units
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	2,903	1,895	1,121
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	(673)	(2,155)	(996)
First Industrial L.P. | General Partner Units
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income	73,779	46,809	25,912
Exchange Of Operating Partnership/ Limited Partnership Units For Common Stock/ General Partnership Units [Abstract]
Conversion of Units / Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	673	2,155	996
First Industrial L.P. | Common Stock
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	14,812	11,949	9,837
First Industrial L.P. | Preferred Stock
Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Distribution Payable	$ 0	$ 0	$ 452