Motorola Mobility headquarters moving to Merchandise Mart

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 7/27/2012 2:34:11 PM

CHICAGO — The Merchandise Mart in Chicago Motorola Mobility and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Thursday that the smartphone company will relocate its Libertyville, Ill., headquarters to downtown Chicago's Merchandise Mart in summer 2013.

Under its 15-year lease, Motorola Mobility will become the landmark building's largest tenant and will occupy nearly 600,000 square feet on the top four floors and the rooftop.

"Today marks a homecoming for a company that was founded in Chicago over 80 years ago and continues to innovate to this day," said Emanuel. "Motorola Mobility joins a growing group of industry-leading companies that see Chicago as a global leader of talent development and business growth, and the company will bring jobs and economic opportunity to our city."

"Illinois is Motorola Mobility's home, and we're thrilled to bring our employees to downtown Chicago and infuse our company with the vibrant energy of the city," said Dennis Woodside, CEO, Motorola Mobility. "We're 84 years young, and what better place to continue our commitment to the state, honor our heritage, recruit top talent and usher in a new era of wireless innovation than in the historic Merchandise Mart."

With its unmistakable presence on the banks of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, the Merchandise Mart is interwoven into the fabric of Chicago's history as a leading innovator in culture, art, business, fashion and media.

The Merchandise Mart is the world's largest commercial building, wholesale design center and one of Chicago's premier international business locations.

"We are very excited that Motorola Mobility Inc., a Google-owned company, will be leasing space at The Merchandise Mart," said John H. Brennen III, executive VP, MMPI. "This lease will bring an additional 3,000 people into the Mart during an exciting time in the building when we are investing and reconfiguring the Casual and Design Center industries. Gary Lee will bring his award-winning design vision to the project and provide a beautiful and cohesive shopping experience for our buyers."

Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business has reported that Motorola Mobility, which was acquired by Google in May, will invest about $300 million in the move. Woodside told Hinz he and other senior executive staff will be based in Sunnyvale, Calif., while product design leaders and most hardware engineers will occupy the Chicago headquarters.

The move is expected to bring about 3,000 jobs to the Merchandise Mart, but Woodside told Hinz that number could grow as Motorola anticipates consolidating other offices into the space.