Porter and Chester Institute Relocates, Expands Operations

WORCESTER, MA—The Porter and Chester Institute is moving operations to larger space here. The technical and professional vocational educator is consolidating space at two locations and relocating to approximately 50,000 square feet of space at 220 Brooks St.

The school currently occupies 29,200 square feet at 129 Flanders Road and 14,000 square feet at 80 Turnpike Road in Westborough, MA. Porter and Chester Institute plans to move administration offices and training programs to its newly leased space this month. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented the institute in its search and lease deal at 220 Brooks St., where it is leasing half of the building.

Building owner Grove Street Properties LLC is making a significant capital investment to outfit the facility for classrooms, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank officials say. Grove Street Properties, which represented itself in the deal, acquired the building in May 2014 in a deal arranged by NGKF Capital Markets.

"This is an ideal move for a school that continues to grow its program and already attracts a large number of students from Worcester, which is the second-largest city in the state," says George Nugent, executive managing director at NGKF's Boston office, who represented the tenant along with Phil Giunta, executive managing director. James Umphrey and David Cohen of local firm Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates helped source local space opportunities in Worcester during the space search.

"Further, the property offers Porter and Chester Institute an opportunity to customize the design details and provides the required space for a diesel truck repair classroom that would not fit in its Westborough locations,” Nugent adds. “This allows the school to expand its curriculum.”

Porter and Chester Institute has eight other campuses in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The institute offers career training programs in the automotive, computer, trades and healthcare fields.