Walter Rooney.
Walter Rooney, 27
Leasing representative at Boston Properties
Walter Rooney got pushed into the deep end at Boston Properties (BXP).
His immediate boss left shortly after Rooney started two years ago in the company’s four-person leasing department for its 8.6 million-square-foot New York City portfolio. The next person ahead of him was three titles higher, meaning Rooney had to get rid of the training wheels pretty quickly.
“There was a lot for me to pick up rather quickly,” he said. “I think it was one of the best things that could’ve happened. It expedited the learning.”
And, he rose to the challenge. Since he started, Rooney worked on Boston Properties’ $310 million sale of 540 Madison Avenue to DivcoWest Real Estate Investments last year and, in April, signed a 27,100-square-foot deal for a full floor at Boston Properties’ Times Square Tower.
“I handled all of the proposals, I went through the lease negotiations, and ran point with the outside counsel,” Rooney said about the deal.
Rooney grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island, where he played lacrosse and football. He was recruited to play lacrosse at the University of Denver, where he won the NCAA Division I Lacrosse Championship. He started his career in real estate by interning with CBRE’s research department in Denver, then came to New York and joined JLL as an office leasing broker.
When a job opportunity came up at Boston Properties, Rooney jumped at the chance, as he was interested in getting into the ownership side of deals.
“On the ownership side, I just like, in terms of the exposure and control, [that] you have a little more,” he said. “A brokerage can be up and down and tough as a younger individual in the city.”
While the coronavirus pandemic has slowed activity, Rooney was able to close a deal in April, and he said Boston Properties has “been extremely active and busy.”
When he’s not working, the West Village resident golfs and likes to explore New York City. He also is a member of the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York.
