A Quarter Built on Relationships and Results

The first quarter of 2026 was defined by depth: deep tenant relationships converting into long-term commitments, expanding footprints from companies that keep choosing Bulfinch, and a pipeline heading into spring that reflects broad-based demand across the portfolio.

More than 350,000 SF of lease transactions closed in Q1, with several additional LOI’s and purchase & sale agreements in active negotiation. The momentum is real, and it’s earned.

Renewals & Expansions: the Tenants who Stay and Grow

The strongest signal in any portfolio isn’t a new signing. It’s when existing tenants expand, extend, and come back for more. Q1 delivered that signal repeatedly.

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute expanded and executed a long-term lease extension at Life Time Center in Chestnut Hill, deepening one of our portfolio’s most significant healthcare anchor relationships.
• Workbar expanded at 117 Kendrick Street for the second time, adding 12,000 SF and bringing their total footprint to just under 40,000 SF. When a tenant grows twice in the same building, it says something about the space, the management team, and the property. 117 Kendrick Street in Needham continues to deliver.
• Emerson Hospital signed a long-term extension for their full-building lease at 54 Baker Ave in Concord, continuing a longstanding institutional tenancy at the property.
• Savers extended across two markets, a 25,000 SF full-building lease at 500 Cochituate Road in Framingham and a 35,600 SF extension at 201 Branch Avenue in Providence. Sustained commitment from a tenant operating on a regional scale.
• Verastem Oncology committed to a 30,000 SF long-term extension at 117 Kendrick Street, a meaningful vote of confidence from a growing life sciences company doubling down in Needham.
• United States Postal Service executed a long-term lease for a Maryland mail processing facility, adding one of the strongest credit tenancies available to the portfolio.

New Tenant: Pura Vida Miami arrives in Harvard Square

Q1 also brought an exciting new addition. Pura Vida Miami, the Miami-born all-day café and lifestyle brand, has signed a lease for the ground floor at 95 Mount Auburn Street in the heart of Harvard Square.

Founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Omer and Jennifer Horev, Pura Vida Miami has grown from a single neighborhood café into a national lifestyle brand, with locations across Florida, New York, California, Maryland, and New Jersey. Grounded in an ingredient-driven philosophy centered on thoughtful preparation and high-quality sourcing, the brand offers a menu prepared without the use of seed oils, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients, whole grains, and premium proteins.

More than a café, Pura Vida Miami reflects how people want to eat and connect today—bringing together quality ingredients, thoughtful design, and a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere. Its arrival enhances the ground-floor experience at 95 Mount Auburn and contributes to the mix of offerings that define Harvard Square as one of Greater Boston’s most distinctive destinations. We’re thrilled to welcome them to Cambridge.

Pipeline: Spring Leasing Season with Wind at our Backs

Beyond closed transactions, the team enters Q2 with several active deals in negotiation across multiple property types and markets. The breadth of the pipeline, healthcare, flex, R&D, life sciences, retail, office, reflects the diversified demand we continue to see across the Bulfinch portfolio.

We look forward to sharing updates as these letters of intent convert into executed leases.

Looking Ahead

350,000+ square feet closed. A standout new tenant in the door. A pipeline with real velocity heading into spring. Q1 set the tone for the year, and the focus now is clear: convert the pipeline, deepen the relationships, and keep expanding on the foundation that defines Bulfinch and our portfolio.

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About the author: Mike Wilcox directs the firm’s leasing, tenant retention and marketing activities across Bulfinch’s portfolio. With close to two decades at Bulfinch, Mike has been involved in a diverse range of lease negotiations and transactions for Bulfinch, resulting in the growth of the company’s strong tenant roster and the stabilization of the portfolio. He has been instrumental in securing key tenants for Bulfinch including Forrester Research, Harvard University, Smithsonian Astrophysics Institute and Siemens.