Consolidated Statement of Capital and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,940,866	156,757,867
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 49,060	$ 53,663	$ 71,383
Issuance of operating partnership units for 360 Park Avenue South	0	0	99,689
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	0	0	(6,412)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	(14,405)	19,396	8,544
Amortization of interest rate contracts	6,703	6,707	6,704
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	244,541	849	18,002
Non-cash contributions from noncontrolling interest in property partnerhips	17,519	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	$ (69,975)	$ (85,518)	$ (259,764)
General Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,755,000	1,750,000	1,746,000	1,731,000
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation	5,000	1,000	5,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	0	3,000	10,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	155,185,000	155,008,000	154,799,000	153,988,000
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation	75,000	30,000	295,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	102,000	179,000	516,000
Partners' Capital (General and Limited Partners)[Member]
Beginning Balance	$ 4,973,951	$ 5,299,428	$ 4,173,290	$ 4,554,639
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	4,321	8,291	26,614
Allocated net income for the period	197,223	860,485	512,474
Distributions	(615,011)	(614,412)	(612,461)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge			(6,412)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	3,794	6,539	18,386
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(76,220)	865,235	(319,950)
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	160,416
Preferred Units [Member]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0	193,623
Allocated net income for the period			2,560
Distributions			(2,560)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount			(193,623)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance	(21,147)	(13,718)	(36,662)	(49,890)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	(12,927)	17,435	7,703
Amortization of interest rate contracts	5,498	5,509	5,525
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,640,704	1,547,317	1,556,553	1,726,933
Allocated net income for the period	78,661	74,857	70,806
Amortization of interest rate contracts	576	576	576
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	84,125	849	18,002
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(69,975)	(85,518)	(259,764)
Total Capital [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,593,508	6,833,027	5,693,181	6,425,305
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	4,321	8,291	26,614
Allocated net income for the period	275,884	935,342	585,840
Distributions	(615,011)	(614,412)	(615,021)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount			(193,623)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge			(6,412)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	3,794	6,539	18,386
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(76,220)	865,235	(319,950)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	(12,927)	17,435	7,703
Amortization of interest rate contracts	6,074	6,085	6,101
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	244,541	849	18,002
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(69,975)	(85,518)	(259,764)
Noncontrolling interest - Redeemable partnership units [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,347,575	1,280,886	2,078,603	$ 1,643,024
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	45,895	46,408	45,773
Allocated net income for the period	22,548	96,780	55,931
Distributions	(73,331)	(71,714)	(68,822)
Issuance of operating partnership units for 360 Park Avenue South			99,689
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	(3,794)	(6,539)	(18,386)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	76,220	(865,235)	319,950
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	(1,478)	1,961	841
Amortization of interest rate contracts	$ 629	$ 622	$ 603