"Nothing takes the place of persistence," reads the inspirational message hanging on the wall in the executive office of Brooks Properties, the commercial real estate and development, company based in Salem, N.H. For more than 30 years, the company has pursued that philosophy, growing the business from a single building on Powers St. in Lawrence, Mass. to a constellation of high-quality commercial and industrial facilities that now includes more than 40 buildings and 1.5 million s/f of space in New Hampshire and neighboring Massachusetts.
The properties are all owner-operated and maintained and range from a former county courthouse refurbished for medical and office use in Exeter, N.H. to the 208,000 s/f Lawrence property that once housed Wang Labs and is now a cornerstone of the Lawrence Industrial Park. Most of the facilities are along the I-93 corridor in southern N.H. and northern Mass. to allow easy access for tenants and their patrons.
The company prides itself on meeting the most technical and specialized requirements of its tenants and in providing round-the-clock service. Among the services and systems provided by Brooks Props. are HVAC, refrigeration, data centers, biotech facilities and specialized power configuration including all redundant systems. All construction is performed with a respect for the surrounding environment, and the company works with local towns and government agencies to identify and solve any environmental problems and meet all regulations.
Brooks Props. newest project is on Keewaydin Dr. in Salem. Last year they built a brand new 36,000 s/f, class A office/medical facility with a modern touch and a meticulously designed landscape, but the other two office/warehouse buildings, which together total 120,000 s/f that were previously purchased by Brooks on Keewaydin Dr. didn't seem to match the décor of the most recent project. So, the owners decided that this year they would refinish and landscape the outside of the older two buildings to match the Brooks Props. standard. They also decided that the subcontractors to be used would be those from local businesses in order to help sustain companies located in the Merrimack Valley. This project is due to be finished by fall 2009.
As they look to the future, family members and employees say they are committed to maintaining the ideals and ethics that were brought to the company with its founding, and seek to build and maintain quality commercial and industrial buildings that will benefit the Merrimack Valley and the surrounding region for decades to come.
Julie Brooks is the marketing director for Brooks Properties, Salem, N.H.