Boston, MA International Institute of New England (IINE) leased 13,676 s/f at 2 Boylston St. for its new headquarters and Boston area training center. Michael Grill and Hillary Brown of Fairlane Properties, Inc. represented IINE. Peter Dominski, Kevin Kennedy and Suzanne Brown represented the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), owner of 2 Boylston St., also known as the China Trade Building.
IINE will be moving from One Milk St., its home of 18 years to its new location directly across the street from the Chinatown MBTA station at the intersection of Boylston and Washington Sts. The IINE has been serving refugees and immigrants in the city since 1924.
IINE is a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts with site offices located in Boston, Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire. The Institute’s mission is to invest in the future of our cities and towns by helping refugees and immigrants become active participants in the social, political, and economic richness of American life.
IINE is one of the oldest and largest service organizations for new Americans in New England. Every year, staff work with more than 2,000 immigrants and refugees as they strive towards a new and successful path in the United States. IINE is funded by federal, state, and local grants and contracts, private foundations, and individual and corporate donors.
IINE was attracted to 2 Boylston Street primarily because of its access to the MBTA Orange and Silver Lines as well as MBTA buses routes. “With the majority of our clients and staff using public transportation, finding a location adjacent to MBTA access was crucial. Being part of Chinatown and the local Asian community is a terrific added benefit. IINE looks forward to working with local organizations and residents to assist them with job training and English opportunities,” said Jeffrey Thielman, President of IINE. He added that, “IINE will continue our work with the latest waves of immigrants and refugees with daytime and evening programs in a state-of-the-art facility.”
“We’re eager to welcome IINE to the China Trade Center, and I thank the organization for selecting this great location as its new home,” said Brian Golden, Director of the BRA. “It truly is a wonderful match to have IINE, with its longstanding mission and record of providing support to new Americans, take up roots in one of Boston’s proud immigrant communities.”
The BRA has invested over $2 million in recent years to upgrade the China Trade Center at 2 Boylston Street in order to attract new tenants. The building’s common area lighting, temperature controls, and fire alarm systems have all been enhanced. In the coming months, the lobby and stairs will be renovated, and the building’s heating and cooling systems, which date back to 1983, will be replaced.
Dyer Brown is providing IINE with design services and Wilmer Hale provided legal assistance to IINE during lease negotiations. Corderman Company will be building out the office and training room spaces. Colliers International will be providing construction management services to IINE during the construction process.
