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.

“Providing exceptional service to our customers is the top priority at Kaufman Hall, and delivering industry-leading solutions for some of their toughest business challenges requires that we attract and retain the best of the best employees,” says Wes Champion, who recently was appointed chief executive officer of Kaufman Hall. “This Chicago expansion allows us to strengthen our capabilities as a trusted advisor to our clients, and to improve our workplace strategy for our employees.”

The new downtown office comes at a time of unprecedented growth for Kaufman Hall. Fueled by a strategic investment from Madison Dearborn Partners in 2015, the company increased its workforce by nearly 20% in 2017. The company currently employs 457 people across six offices.

“CME Center offers Kaufman Hall not only a prestigious address, but a setting that aligns with the company's corporate objective of creating a vibrant office environment with all of the amenities and accessibility desired by today's workforce,” says Renae Bradshaw, corporate managing director of Savills Studley, who represented Kaufman Hall in the transaction, along with colleague and vice chairman John Goodman.

“In Chicago and other metro areas across the US, we are seeing a dramatic shift in location dynamics. Rather than employees moving to where companies are located, companies are moving to where the talent wants to be. Culture and convenience are two key attractions for the millennial generation,” adds Bradshaw.

Instant Insights /

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