More Suburban Firms Establishing CBD Offices

The CME Center, now certified as LEED Gold, is currently undergoing a lobby redevelopment scheduled for completion in 2019.

CHICAGO—Although many suburban companies have decided their futures are in downtown Chicago, others believe they just need a foothold. Kaufman Hall, a financial consultant and software provider, has decided to expand its Chicago-area presence with a new office in downtown Chicago. The company leased 14,118 square feet at 10 S. Wacker St. in the CME Center. But its corporate headquarters will remain in Skokie, where it has been located since 2005.

A downtown presence has become key for tech-focused firms that want to draw recruits from the millennial generation. And Kaufman Hall officials say this expansion is part of a “modern workforce strategy” that will help attract and retain talent. The new office will house roughly 100 employees and will feature a modern, flexible environment and communal amenities. It will open in August of 2018.