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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Behind The Walls of Recent Corporate HQ Transformations

Costs issues alone rarely drive a headquarters location decision; they are generally characterized by strategic objectives and a focus on improving performance.

Q4 2014
When it comes to locating a headquarters facility, varied performance objectives are often cited. It may be as simple as the need to expand or consolidate multiple offices into one centralized location. However, oftentimes those charged with the location decision want to accomplish a change in corporate culture, i.e., a new environment will enable the firm to access a new and diverse labor pool, perhaps one with specialized talent, and to thereby increase productivity. A new headquarters location also gives a company the opportunity to brandish its image and enhance communications and accessibility with those outside the firm, including financial and business experts.

Whatever the reason behind a headquarters move, according to the Project and Development Services group at JLL — an industry leader in the management of design, construction, and relocation services for both corporate and institutional clients — behind the walls of every corporate headquarters is a story. The stories — and solutions — that follow encompass how buildings and spaces have been transformed to the innovative, industry-leading corporate and/or regional headquarters we see today. The full gamut of situations are depicted, from meeting intricate logistical challenges to finding customized solutions for complex problems to making a clear statement to reinforce a brand to promoting a more productive workspace.

Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)
65,000 sq. ft., Arlington, VA
Expand Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) - 65,000 sq. ft., Arlington, VA
Close Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) - 65,000 sq. ft., Arlington, VA
Downsizing and transforming workplace culture — ARC wished to downsize its headquarters from 80,000 square feet to 68,000 square feet and transform workplace culture from enclosed to open office space. The result is a cutting-edge modern office design that integrates technology into an ideal site.


BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
950,000 sq. ft., Chattanooga, TN
Expand BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee - 950,000 sq. ft., Chattanooga, TN
Close BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee - 950,000 sq. ft., Chattanooga, TN
Consolidation of multiple locations into one efficient centralized facility — When BCBST looked to reduce operating costs, a comprehensive plan that included financial strategy was developed to consolidate its nine locations into one major downtown facility. BCBST engaged a firm to serve as owner’s advocate and manage every phase from planning through construction of the new consolidated facility.


Cirrus Logic
137,877 sq. ft., Austin, TX
Expand Cirrus Logic - 137,877 sq. ft., Austin, TX
Close Cirrus Logic - 137,877 sq. ft., Austin, TX
Building the ideal office space — When this semiconductor engineering company decided to relocate its corporate headquarters from the suburbs to the heart of the downtown music district, they engaged a national, full-service real estate firm for turnkey site selection, government approvals, procurement, project management, and development services. The result was expanded square footage in an ideal location, including a 2,500-square-foot terrace.


Dassault Systèmes
40,000 sq. ft., Woodland Hills, CA
Dassault Systèmes - 40,000 sq. ft., Woodland Hills, CA
Integrating two offices by renovating in place — This international design software company integrated its Santa Monica office into its Woodland Hills office by renovating two full floors, building out a research and development lab, rightsizing a server room and reusing existing furniture from a North Carolina facility. The result: maximized space, energy efficiency and significant cost savings.


Deloitte University
800,000 sq. ft., Westlake, TX (LEED Gold)
SlideshowDeloitte University, Westlake, TX Deloitte University - 800,000 sq. ft., Westlake, TX (LEED Gold)
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Promoting learning and leadership — A massive undertaking, this new build-to-suit, state-of-the-art corporate conference and lodging facility includes 800 guest rooms, onsite dining, a fitness center, sports fields, and a manmade lake.


DeVry Education Group
245,000 sq. ft., Chicago, IL
DeVry Education Group - 245,000 sq. ft., Chicago, IL
Using proactive project management on an aggressive timeline — To ensure that 900 employees were moved to two separate facilities with 1,200 workstations over three weekends on time and under budget, DeVry Education Group and its advisors developed a compressed construction schedule with proactive project management.


Fossil
535,731 sq. ft., Richardson, TX
Expand Fossil - 535,731 sq. ft., Richardson, TX
Close Fossil - 535,731 sq. ft., Richardson, TX
Transforming a dated existing facility into a world-class headquarters — Fossil completely revamped a 50-year-old two-part building into an edgy new headquarters that not only supports its brand identity, but would also accommodate 1,200 relocated employees. From a dramatic entrance trellis, to high-end office spaces, to a four-star cafeteria/dining facility, over 85 percent of the interior was demolished to create a single new facility that exudes class with savings and value-adds totaling $1.875 million.


GTECH
117,000 sq. ft., Providence, RI
GTECH - 117,000 sq. ft., Providence, RI
Relocating from a suburban campus to a city location — With a move hinging on a state contract with highly specific requirements and complicated transactions, GTECH looked to its advisor to provide move management assistance, negotiate with the landlord, manage design and construction improvements, and develop first-class real estate processes for the company.


Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
1.2M sq. ft., Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - 1.2M sq. ft., Cambridge, MA
A major purchase and office-to-lab building conversion — When an owner put a complex of three choice unfinished office buildings on the market, MIT acquired the site and converted the buildings into custom laboratory space. With the addition of four new buildings totaling 620,000 square feet, MIT Technology Square is one of the most desired addresses in the nation for high-tech and biotech industries.

National Grid
312,000 sq. ft., Cambridge, MA (LEED CS and CI Platinum)
National Grid - 312,000 sq. ft., Cambridge, MA (LEED CS and CI Platinum)
A new facility consolidates New England utility operations — To accommodate several utility acquisitions, National Grid first completed a lease for a new consolidated headquarters facility, and then completed its build-to-suit development. The global real estate advisory service firm involved in those phases also provided move management for National Grid’s relocation to the new headquarters from four regional offices.


North Highland Worldwide Consulting
70,000 sq. ft., Atlanta, GA
Creating a workspace that attracts talent and fosters collaboration — JLL helped North Highland strategically renovate its headquarters to become a desirable workspace for top talent — and to lure its mostly transient workforce back to the office. By incorporating alternative meeting and workspaces into the design, the space itself promotes exchange of knowledge, collaboration, and a fresh approach to tasks.


Pinnacle Foods
60,000 sq. ft., Cherry Hill, NJ
Creating an open floor plan to encourage collaboration — This project converted a former manufacturing facility into a new open plan workspace with glass-front offices and 30-foot-high ceilings. The design, including interior offices, low workstations, and collaborative areas set new workplace standards for Pinnacle Foods. From design to move-in, the project was completed in less than five months.


Pizza Hut
177,540 sq. ft. on a 20-acre site, Plano, TX
Pizza Hut - 177,540 sq. ft. on a 20-acre site, Plano, TX
Relocating corporate headquarters to reflect workflow and cultural identity — Pizza Hut integrated brand identity into the project development of this site, which features food and beverage labs, employee cafeterias, a two-story atrium lobby, 608 parking spots, a wellness center, conference center, daycare, a pond, and exercise facilities, including a jogging trail, playground, and basketball court.


QinetiQ North America
82,000 sq. ft., Reston, VA
Consolidating a national portfolio — After a period of extreme growth, QinetiQ needed to consolidate its new acquisitions into a single location. The company engaged JLL to provide everything from site selection and construction management to landlord interface and furniture procurement.


Technology Company
1.5 million sq. ft., Beijing, China
Technology Company - 1.5 million sq. ft., Beijing, China
A new world-class facility that reflects Chinese culture — A 20-person, three-nation team developed a new twin tower Chinese headquarters with 50 floors, each approximately 32,000 square feet. Employees were relocated into a simple yet elegant campus that includes four restaurants, a full-service health club, and a 100-meter connecting pedestrian bridge between buildings, symbolizing China’s link to the international technology community.
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