Whether a company is looking to enter the local market or has been operating in Puerto Rico for several decades, location, operating space, and other property-related considerations are a necessary part of doing business. Exclusively serving Puerto Rico’s commercial and industrial sectors, Christiansen & Portela can help companies with a wide range of real-estate needs. “Not only do we help clients find the right property; we also help established companies get the most value out of what they already have,” said Rafael Portela, principal at Christiansen & Portela.

Specializing in prime office, industrial, and commercial properties, the firm currently has a number of sites available throughout the island ranging from large facilities for major manufacturing and distribution operations, to smaller sites perfect for light industrial work. This includes plants, buildings, and warehousing facilities in locations such as Humacao, Carolina, Guaynabo, and Las Piedras—all with a number of sophisticated amenities to meet any kind of production and storage need.

In terms of high-tech office space, the company has a number of projects either under development or ready to be occupied, including the 5-level DASE building and Fundación Carvajal Office building in Guaynabo, GAM Tower in San Patricio, and City View Plaza II on PR165. “City View Plaza II is in an excellent location and has been designed to offer a pleasant environment that is low on stress and high on productivity,” said Portela. “It is also an excellent opportunity for those who missed phase one.”

In addition to helping new and existing companies find the right location, Christiansen & Portela specialize in helping companies get the most out of property they currently own. “Companies might be experts at what they do, but sometimes they are not aware of the value and usefulness of the property they’re sitting on and might be surprised to find that they have some very attractive alternatives.” Helping companies determine whether they are making the best use of their property and operational space, the experts at Christiansen & Portela can do a thorough in-depth analysis of the operation and recommend options that include sale-leaseback agreements or even a major relocation if it would be in the company’s best interest financially.

Having worked with a number of Fortune 500 companies and major corporations across all sectors, the firm has also developed strong ties with several global real-estate providers and serves as their local representative in Puerto Rico. Services provided by Christiansen & Portela currently include property acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, tenant representations, site selections, and advisory services. “One of the things we are trying to do is to get more local investors interested in local development,” said Portela, who explained that while a lot of investing is being done by those outside the island, many locals aren’t aware of just how profitable investments in local projects can be.