Room For More in Adams Industrial Building
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| One of the furnished conference rooms at the Renfrew Center. |
Now, the 80,000 square-foot building (now called the Renfrew Center) at 43 Printworks Drive in the Adams Corporate Park is undergoing a revitalization, as the facility welcomed two new tenants in the final months of 2007 and another two in the first few weeks of January.
According to Michael Richardello, consultant for Meehan & Co., the owners of the building, the company has always imagined taking a non-traditional approach to leasing the space to "small to medium-sized business operators."
Meehan purchased the building for $1.45 million two years ago from Northern Berkshire Industrial Park and Development Corp.
"When Meehan & Co. purchased the building, we were constantly thinking 'What can we do with this?' We originally thought we could market it to one major tenant but no one really needs that much space anymore. One of the things that always lingered in the back of our minds was the idea of flexible office and industrial space that we could market to a variety of people," Richardello said.
The Renfrew Center, which has been occupied by the Novtex Corp. since its construction in 1997, boasts more than 18 office suites ranging in size from 132 to 6,000 square feet and about 55,000 square feet of divisible industrial space.
Complete with office furniture, a panoramic view of Mount Greylock and access to building common areas, the turn-key office space is housed on two floors connected by stairs and an elevator. Office lease rates (as low as $200 a month) include utilities, lawn care, snow removal and common area office cleaning.
<L2>The beauty of "flex" space is an emphasis on meeting the needs of several different kinds of business owners, from the at-home entrepreneur to the larger manufacturing industry.
"We're providing an opportunity for people to operate and grow their own business," said Richardello. "What you gain by coming to a place like this is a focus on your business. You can feel like you're really going somewhere."
The building's five occupants take up approximately 15 percent of the facility, Richardello said. The building is home to four small companies, in addition to Novtex. Tom Jammalo, a regional senior sales manager for Acme Printing Co., has leased one office for sales and marketing and Advance Flexible Composites Inc. has taken up three offices and 8,500-square feet of industrial space after acquiring the Ravel Technology Inc., formerly operating in North Adams.
Last year, the building welcomed Street Smart Signs Inc., which specializes in promoting pedestrian safety through the creation of large crosswalk signs, and Needlejig, a tattoo equipment distribution company run by Marc Lescarbeau.<R3>
"There's an awful lot of small businesses operators out there looking for good, quality space and they don't know where to find it. We're willing to provide it," Richardello said.
The building also features three shipping and receiving truck docks and two ground-level overhead doors.
<L4>Saying the project was "gaining momentum," Richardello said he was dedicated to accommodating tenants who are looking for a prime location to help expand a business.
"It's a wonderful building, in A-plus-plus condition, and you can walk right in and be ready to go," he said. "Open the door and start your business."
