Consistent with its focus on creating value from real estate, JLL is putting its own workplace experts to work in coordination with Gensler’s architecture and design professionals to revitalize its five-floor headquarters office at Aon Center. Last fall, Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. announced that Jones Lang LaSalle, based at theAon center since 1996, signed a 199,730-square-foot, 15-year extension lease through 2032 at Chicago’s iconic Aon Center.
Through the 24-month design and construction effort, JLL will embrace fresh and innovative concepts that appeal to its employees’ desires for an adaptable, flexible, sustainable and technologically-advanced work environment. JLL expects to increase employee engagement and retention by creating a workplace that works for its people. The firm has been recognized for its workplace excellence by being named a best place to work in many cities around the world including a Top Workplace for three consecutive years by the Chicago Tribune and one of Illinois’ Healthiest Employers by Crain’s Chicago Business.
JLL selected Gensler for its reputation for innovation and proven track record of working with JLL on highly successful client projects nationally and locally. In Chicago, some of the distinctive spaces that JLL and Gensler partnered on include the 1871 technology hub and Matter biotech working space at the Merchandise Mart.
“We intend to bring the most advanced approaches to workplace design and productivity to life in our revitalized headquarters office in Chicago so our employees can thrive and do their best work for our clients,” said Greg O’Brien, JLL’s Americas CEO.
“Our new space will reflect JLL’s culture and answer to the needs of our people, which will drive greater engagement. Gensler’s comprehensive and innovative approach to developing corporate spaces, combined with its global experience, makes it the right partner to create JLL’s office of the future.”
Well before the lease renewal at Aon Center and the selection of Gensler, JLL’s experts began laying the foundation for the revitalization by engaging employees across functions and generations and analyzing their space usage. This workplace strategy approach of linking data and employee insight with the firm’s business goals and culture will be a consistent part of the project. Additionally, JLL’s workplace experts will apply their deep knowledge about the positive impact physical office space design can have on employee productivity and satisfaction.
Gensler Design Director Jim Prendergast commented, “JLL’s commitment to progressive and productive real estate performance is driving the creation of a highly responsive and adaptive workplace. This workplace will have – as its foundation – a direct and profound correlation between staff input and design result, amplified through a sophisticated branded environment.”
