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(Left to Right) Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Ric Clark, CEO of Brookfield Property Group, John Zuccotti, Co-Chairman of Brookfield Office Properties, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Dennis Friedrich, CEO of Brookfield Office Properties, Ann Weisbrod, President of the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Patrick Foye pose for a photograph in the first segment of the platform to be installed in the Manhattan West development in New York, January 15, 2013.The platform is being constructed as part of Brookfield's five-million-square foot mixed development project. Keith Bedford/Brookfield Office PropertiesA rendering of the two, two-million-square foot class A office towers that will be built at Manhattan West designed by master plan architects Skidmore, Owings & MerrillThe Manhattan West site plan(Left to Right) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signs the first segment of the platform to be installed in the Manhattan West development as Ann Weisbrod, President of the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, John Zuccotti, Co-Chairman of Brookfield Office Properties, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Patrick Foye, Ric Clark, CEO of Brookfied Property Group, Dennis Friedrich, CEO of Brookfield Office Properties, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer watch during a groundbreaking ceremony in New York, January 15, 2013. The concrete segment is part of an innovative technology that will create a platform over the train tracks at the site. Keith Bedford/Brookfield Office PropertiesThe animated 1.5-acre open public space that will traverse Manhattan West, creating a pedestrian-only '32nd St'

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 01/15/13 -- Brookfield Office Properties Inc. (NYSE: BPO) (TSX: BPO) today announced an exciting step forward in its New York property portfolio by commencing construction of the platform for the Manhattan West development site on Ninth Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd Streets and Dyer Avenue at a ceremony at the site with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Construction is expected to be completed in 2014, positioning the project to receive tenants in 2016.