Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Total per Schedule III	$ 18,822,081,000	$ 23,559,891,000	$ 22,413,079,000
Land	1,516,166,000
Other real estate investments	486,230,000
Total per consolidated balance sheet	20,824,477,000	25,809,123,000
Aggregate cost for Federal tax purposes	13,300,000,000
Total accumulated depreciation per Schedule III	2,540,267,000	2,460,642,000	2,150,713,000
Accumulated depreciation on other real estate investments	28,731,000
Total per consolidated balance sheet	2,568,998,000	2,480,660,000
Amount secured of mortgage notes	4,600,000,000
Mortgage notes	1,900,000,000
Assessment bonds	16,200,000
Assessment bonds, aggregate undepreciated cost	835,000,000
Real estate assets:
Balance at beginning of year	23,559,891,000	22,413,079,000	11,080,161,000
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	2,050,810,000	2,881,005,000	12,150,482,000
Basis of operating properties disposed of	(6,857,994,000)	(1,630,764,000)	(906,602,000)
Change in the development portfolio balance, including the acquisition of properties	69,374,000	91,112,000	495,169,000
Impairment of real estate properties		(194,541,000)	(21,237,000)
Assets transferred to held-for-sale			(384,894,000)
Balance at end of year	18,822,081,000	23,559,891,000	22,413,079,000
Accumulated Depreciation:
Balance at beginning of year	2,460,642,000	2,150,713,000	1,589,251,000
Depreciation expense	505,691,000	665,239,000	574,524,000
Balances retired upon disposition of operating properties and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	(426,066,000)	(355,310,000)	(994,000)
Assets transferred to held-for-sale			(12,068,000)
Balance at end of year	$ 2,540,267,000	$ 2,460,642,000	$ 2,150,713,000
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