HQ-Who? Tech firms still hot on Chicago as Google will double Fulton Market footprint to 1 MSF

Tech giant Google helped propel the demand for Fulton Market office space when it moved in four years ago. Now, reports indicate that the firm is looking to double its footprint in Chicago’s hottest neighborhood.

According to Crain’s, the Mountain View, California-based company has been speaking with developers about taking extra space in the trendy area, nine months after signing an additional Fulton Market lease in Sterling Bay’s 210 N. Carpenter Street. The expansion could lead to Google occupying up to 1 million square feet.

The company has reportedly looked at 320 N. Sangamon Street, a 13-story, 245,000-square-foot property being developed by Mark Goodman & Associates and Tishman Speyer, as well as 167 N. Green Street, a 17-story, 635,000-square-foot development by Shapack Partners and Focus. Frequent partner and Fulton Market darlings Sterling Bay also has properties under development that Google has been looking into, including the 11-story building at 345 N. Morgan Street.

All potential properties are within a few blocks of the firm’s Midwest headquarters. Google currently occupies more than 360,000 square feet at 1000 W. Fulton Market. The lease at 210 N. Carpenter Street added another 132,000 square feet of office space.