NEWTON, MA—About four months after its $280-million sale, shoe designer and marketer the Rockport Group has signed a long-term lease and says it will be relocating its corporate headquarters from Canton, MA to 70,000 square feet on Washington Street here.

The firm, acquired from the Adidas Group by a partnership of Boston-based investment firm Berkshire Partners LLC, and New Balance Holding, Inc., the investment arm of New Balance in August, will shift corporate headquarters operations in the fall of 2016 to 1210-1220 Washington St. In an announcement, the company states approximately 200 workers will be housed at its new facility in Newton. The company is currently headquartered at 100 Royall St. in Canton.

The August transaction involved, Drydock Footwear LLC, a New Balance affiliate and home to the Cobb Hill, Aravon and Dunham brands, joining together with The Rockport Company to form The Rockport Group. Bob Infantino, a former executive with The Rockport Co., returned to the firm and assumed the post of CEO. The Rockport Group is now a new stand-alone company that offers dress and casual footwear brands—Rockport, Cobb Hill, Aravon and Dunham. The Rockport Group designs, markets and sells comfort footwear to independent, online and department stores in North America and more than 63 markets worldwide.

Rockport joins VideoLink Inc., a video services provider to Fortune 500 and enterprise companies and institutions, which occupies 20,000-square-feet at the building. The property is 100% leased.

Cushman & Wakefield's executive managing director John Boyle and associate vice president Ryan Romano represented Rockport in the lease transaction. Davis Companies' Cappy Daume and Gary Hofstetter represented the building owner—David Marcus Partners—a partnership of the Davis Companies and Marcus Partners, in the transaction.

Both Davis Marcus Partners and the Rockport Group plan a significant capital investment in the 100-year-old building. Renovations are set to begin on June 1, 2016 and will be completed for a Rockport move-in during the fall of 2016.

"As a standalone company, we were looking for an office location with character that exemplifies the Rockport Group. The property offers the aesthetic of a classic mill building with state of the art amenities that will provide a creative and open environment for our employees," says Rockport Group's Infantino. "We are thrilled to move to our new space and are excited to have an office that reflects our character and brand."

C&W's Boyle adds, "1220 Washington Street, with its brick and beam structure and very high ceilings, creates a space that reflects the authentic culture of the Rockport Group and offers great visibility for the brand from the MassPike. The Rockport Group's decision to move and bring additional jobs to Newton also represents their commitment and dedication to economic growth and sustainability in this area."