Savills represented SMS Assist in a new, long-term lease totaling 114,383 square feet. The technology company will relocate from its current headquarters at 875 North Michigan Avenue to the first four floors of One Two Pru located at 130 East Randolph Street in the space previously occupied by Tribune Publishing. Savills Vice Chairman Robert Sevim and Associate Cullen Hurley advised SMS Assist in its real estate process.
SMS Assist provides property management solutions designed to simplify maintenance services for residential and commercial properties. More than 200,000 properties and a network of over 20,000 users utilize the cloud-based software. SMS Assist was searching for a more effective work environment to accommodate its expanding business in a building with abundant amenities, allowed opportunity for growth, and possessed an open floorplan that mirrors its innovative and progressive company culture.
Savills conducted a workplace analysis and geographic information system study that examined SMS Assist’s current headcount, talent recruitment strategy, and space and building utilization to determine the optimal criteria for its new workplace. The team identified a rare opportunity in the former Tribune Publishing space at One Two Pru that was designed as a modern media center containing all the necessary technology firm requirements. The floorplan, spread across four floors, features a large reception space, open workstations, numerous formal and informal conference rooms, multiple huddle areas, and an expansive café.
The space comes fully built out with top-line furnishings and a grand staircase that connects all floors. The like-new conditions provide a favorable economic outcome for SMS Assist while allowing flexibility for growth within its space and the building. The new office expands the company’s headquarters footprint by 20,000 square feet and includes a private entry on Stetson Street. SMS Assist will relocate in Q1 2022.
“SMS Assist is a true disruptor in the technology industry, and its new headquarters at One Two Pru provides the firm with the ability to develop its market-leading solutions in a unique and distinctive setting,” said Sevim.
“As forward-thinking creators, we saw a long-term opportunity in a recently renovated workspace that required minimal capital investment designed with a modern company in mind,” said Marc Shiffman, CEO of SMS Assist. “The environment at One Two Pru is a truly perfect fit for our productivity and cultural goals, as our company continues to evolve and grow.”
The recently renovated One Two Pru is a 2.3-million-square-foot, two-tower development located in the East Loop neighborhood at Randolph and Stetson. The interconnected structures are fixtures in the Chicago skyline, overlooking Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. It features expansive green space, rooftop deck, contemporary lounge, health club, wellness programming, and concierge services. In 2021, the property received the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which assesses and verifies a commercial property’s operations to reduce virus transmission and prepare for a healthy, safe return-to-office experience.