Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Total per Schedule III	$ 25,375,539	$ 25,608,648	$ 20,109,432	$ 25,375,539	$ 25,608,648
Land				1,218,904
Other real estate investments				524,887
Total per consolidated balance sheet				27,119,330	27,521,368
Aggregate cost for Federal tax purposes				16,100,000
Total accumulated depreciation per Schedule III	3,679,479	3,207,855	2,748,835	3,679,479	3,207,855
Accumulated depreciation on other real estate investments	78,893
Less accumulated depreciation				3,758,372	$ 3,274,284
Amount secured of mortgage notes				5,200,000
Mortgage notes	2,700,000
Assessment bonds				$ 14,500
Assessment bonds, aggregate undepreciated cost	737,400
Real estate assets:
Balance at beginning of year	25,608,648	20,109,432	18,822,081
Acquisitions of operating properties, improvements to operating properties development activity, transfers of land to CIP and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	1,883,888	7,191,335	3,595,836
Basis of operating properties disposed of	(1,359,186)	(1,719,632)	(2,713,300)
Change in the development portfolio balance, including the acquisition of properties	(440,821)	398,923	452,963
Assets transferred to held-for-sale	(316,990)	(371,410)	(48,148)
Balance at end year	25,375,539	25,608,648	20,109,432
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance at beginning of year	3,207,855	2,748,835	2,540,267
Depreciation expense	668,686	617,258	490,298
Balances retired upon disposition of operating properties and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	(195,895)	(153,621)	(277,516)
Assets transferred to held-for-sale	(1,167)	(4,617)	(4,214)
Balance at end of year	$ 3,679,479	$ 3,207,855	$ 2,748,835
Standard Tenant Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	10 years
Land improvements on developed buildings [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	25 years
Acquired Industrial Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	30 years
Properties Developed [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	40 years
Minimum [Member] | Capital Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Capital Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	7 years