CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ PARTNER'S CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in- Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	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, 2013	$ 1,171,219	$ (3,265)	$ 44,369	$ 1,100	$ 1,817,609	$ (688,594)
Beginning 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 Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(2,155)	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)		(1,816)			(45,447)
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		1,895			49,110		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	(13,867)	41,877	1,106	1,751,059	(689,348)
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 Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(673)	1	672		(673)	0		673	(673)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		(28)		28
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(59,014)		(2,218)			(56,796)
Unit Distributions								(59,014)		(56,796)	(2,218)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest								67					67
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest								(189)					(189)
Net Income	76,705		2,903			73,802		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	(9,667)	42,035	1,111	1,756,415	(674,759)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015								1,125,850	0	1,054,028	80,769	(10,043)	1,096
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Common Stock / Contribution of General Partner Units, Net of Issuance Costs	124,584			56	124,528			124,584		124,584
Stock Based Compensation Activity	5,301			2	5,516	(217)
Stock Based Compensation Activity								5,301		5,301
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units	0		(2,862)	3	2,859		$ (2,862)	0		2,862	(2,862)
Reallocation—Additional Paid-in-Capital	0		2,547		(2,547)
Common Stock Dividends and Unit Distributions	(91,318)		(3,203)			(88,115)
Unit Distributions								(91,318)		(88,115)	(3,203)
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interest								123					123
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest								(400)					(400)
Net Income	125,684		4,452			121,232		125,684		121,095	4,452		137
Reallocation—Other Comprehensive Income	0	(29)	29
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	5,239	5,053	186					5,239				5,239
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,284,625	$ (4,643)	$ 43,184	$ 1,172	$ 1,886,771	$ (641,859)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016								$ 1,295,063	$ 0	$ 1,219,755	$ 79,156	$ (4,804)	$ 956