LAURIN PUBLISHING PURCHASES KB TOYS BUILDING

After 32 years as a tenant in the Berkshire Commons at 2 South Street, Laurin Publishing has purchased the KB Toys building at 100 West Street and plans to relocate there by fall 2012.

In announcing the purchase, company president Thomas F. Laurin said, “Downtown Pittsfield is in the midst of a hard-won renaissance, with a great deal of thought going into the city’s culture and beautification. We are proud to be part of that rebirth by bringing new life to an important commercial building that has been underutilized for some time, and recommitting to our place in Pittsfield’s proud past and dynamic future.”

Laurin Publishing was founded in Pittsfield in 1964 by Teddi C. Laurin, and has occupied space in a number of buildings over the years. Under the brand Photonics Media, the company publishes business-to-business magazines, directories and websites serving the global photonics industry, which focuses on optics, lasers, imaging, photonics component manufacturing and more.

“This is both a family and a business which have been a significant part of our community for decades,” said Mayor Daniel Bianchi. “They have always invested in Pittsfield and will continue to do so at an even higher level as the new owners of a key downtown building. We stand ready to assist in any way with the revival of this building and the transition of Laurin Publishing to West Street.”

“It is a great time to invest in downtown Pittsfield,” said Mr. Laurin. “I am delighted to stand united with the Mayor’s Office and City Hall, and to do our part to make this move a positive one for our employees, our neighbors, the local business community and the City of Pittsfield.”