Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Rental Income	$ 243,478	$ 242,213	$ 246,027
Tenant Recoveries and Other Income	74,357	78,696	83,588
Construction Revenues		869	54,957
Total Revenues	317,835	321,778	384,572
Expenses:
Property Expenses	108,590	108,651	111,280
General and Administrative	20,638	26,589	37,835
Restructuring Costs	1,553	1,858	7,806
Impairment of Real Estate	(8,807)	112,904	5,617
Depreciation and Other Amortization	121,604	125,298	131,871
Construction Expenses		507	52,720
Total Expenses	243,578	375,807	347,129
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	3,922	4,364	3,084
Interest Expense	(100,127)	(105,898)	(114,768)
Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs	(3,963)	(3,473)	(3,030)
Mark-to-Market (Loss) Gain on Interest Rate Protection Agreements	(1,718)	(1,107)	3,667
(Loss) Gain From Retirement of Debt	(5,459)	(4,304)	34,562
Foreign Currency Exchange Loss	(332)	(190)
Total Other Income (Expense)	(107,677)	(110,608)	(76,485)
Loss From Continuing Operations Before Equity in Income (Loss) of Joint Ventures, Gain on Sale of Joint Venture Interests, Gain on Change in Control of Interests and Income Tax (Provision) Benefit	(33,420)	(164,637)	(39,042)
Equity in Income (Loss) of Joint Ventures	980	675	(6,470)
Gain on Sale of Joint Venture Interests		11,226
Gain on Change in Control of Interests	689
Income Tax (Provision) Benefit	(450)	(2,963)	25,185
Loss from Continuing Operations	(32,201)	(155,699)	(20,327)
Discontinued Operations:
Income (Loss) Attributable to Discontinued Operations	2,920	(77,529)	1,922
Gain on Sale of Real Estate	20,419	11,092	24,206
Provision for Income Taxes Allocable to Discontinued Operations	(1,246)		(1,846)
Total Discontinued Operations	22,093	(66,437)	24,282
(Loss) Income Before Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(10,108)	(222,136)	3,955
Gain on Sale of Real Estate	1,370	859	374
Provision for Income Taxes Allocable to Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(452)	(342)	(143)
Net (Loss) Income	(9,190)	(221,619)	4,186
Less: Net Loss Attributable to the Noncontrolling Interest	1,745	18,798	1,547
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc	(7,445)	(202,821)	5,733
Less: Preferred Dividends	(19,565)	(19,677)	(19,516)
Net Loss Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ (27,010)	$ (222,498)	$ (13,783)
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Loss from Continuing Operations Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ (0.59)	$ (2.56)	$ (0.73)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Attributable to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 0.26	$ (0.97)	$ 0.45
Net Loss Available to First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.'s Common Stockholders and Participating Securities	$ (0.34)	$ (3.53)	$ (0.28)
Distributions Per Share	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding	80,616	62,953	48,695