Stockholders' Equity of the Company and Partners' Capital of the Operating Partnership - Summary of Changes in Noncontrolling Interest (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 42,035
Net Income	607	$ 93
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Including a Reallocation of $3 and $2)	(12,394)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value	0	0
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	0
Ending Balance	41,222
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	42,035	41,877
Net Income	607	93
Distributions	(816)	(557)
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Including a Reallocation of $3 and $2)	(459)	142
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value	(98)	(95)
Reallocation - Additional Paid-in-Capital	(47)	(34)
Ending Balance	41,222	41,426
Reallocation - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3	2
First Industrial, L.P.
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	1,096
Net Income	14	26
Contributions	3
Distributions	(33)
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Including a Reallocation of $3 and $2)	(12,394)
Conversion of Limited Partner Units to Common Stock / General Partner Units, Value	0	0
Ending Balance	1,080
First Industrial, L.P. | Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	1,096	1,080
Net Income	14	26
Contributions	3	2
Distributions	(33)	0
Ending Balance	$ 1,080	$ 1,108