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Timberland Co. officials have identified the Portwalk in Portsmouth as a possible place of interest for relocating their corporate headquarters once their lease expires in 2010.

Robin Giampa, director of corporate communications for Timberland, confirmed that the lease for the Stratham headquarters is up in 2010 and that the company is considering various places around the Seacoast, particularly the Portwalk.

The footwear company has been based out of Stratham headquarters since 1994, and Giampa said it is looking for a 160,000-square-foot space for its 600 employees.

Giampa noted that the company expects to make a decision whether to stay or go in the next couple weeks.

Tom Farrelly, executive director for Cushman and Wakefield, is representing Timberland in their search for a new home and said after conducting a thorough study of their needs, it matched them up to a variety of real estate opportunities in New Hampshire and in northern Massachusetts. "Though there were a lot of attractive opportunities in northern Massachusetts, Timberland decided their heritage as a New Hampshire company should be kept intact," he said.

Having looked at properties as far away as Nashua and Merrimack, Farrelly said they most recently began to focus in on the Seacoast, particularly in Portsmouth and Hampton.

"Timberland has a very unique corporate culture, with a particular emphasis on people and the environment and we are placing high value on those factors as we consider different locations," said Farrelly.

Farrelly added that the Portwalk possesses some unique sustainable aspects that make it even more attractive, especially since it's intended to be given a LEED silver certification.

Jeff Johnston, principal for Boston-based Cathartes Private Investments, said Timberland is a "terrific company" that is not only familiar with the Seacoast but knows Portsmouth very well.

"Timberland's values align well with Portwalk's as well with City of Portsmouth," said Johnston.

In addition to trying to build an underground parking garage and install bike racks, Johnston considers all of their sustainable aspirations to be right in line with Timberland's vision"I think it would be a great boost to the downtown," he added.