APA's Office Moves to Chicago Icon AON Center
APA's headquarters office has relocated to the AON Center at 200 E. Randolph Street in downtown Chicago this year. The move marks a significant milestone in APA's journey to better serve members while adapting to changing post-pandemic trends.
For 15 years, APA's office was located at Michigan Plaza, a two-tower office complex in downtown Chicago's East Loop area. With a lease set to expire in June 2025, and a dynamic office market where well-located, amenity-rich, Class A office properties continue to outperform older, less updated properties, APA saw an opportunity to reassess its workspace needs.
Space was a significant factor in APA's decision-making, with a commitment to maintain or decrease the total office footprint in recognition of hybrid work practices, a desire for more efficient use of space for employee seating and meeting rooms, and for new workspaces to accommodate diverse modes of work (private and collaborative).
Technology was another consideration, with audio and visual infrastructure and IT security requirements core to the evaluation of potential options. Lastly, a downtown location with modern facilities and amenities was key.
The 'It Takes a Planner' mural greets visitors when entering the new APA office space. Photo courtesy of Caroline Skoog, Cushing.
APA Relocates Downtown Chicago Office
After a thorough review of several options and extensive consultation with experts at Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE), the proposal for a 15-year lease presented by the AON Center offered the best value and opportunity for APA to thrive in the future:
- The office footprint decreased by 8 percent, or 1,758 rentable square feet.
- The structural design of the building, characterized by fewer interior beams, allowed for adaptable floor plans to accommodate space and technology build-out needs.
- The overall cost of leasing the new space remains the same as if APA remained in its old space, with significant gains in the quality of facilities and building amenities.
APA's office move is reflective of many broad trends that emphasize flexible and collaborative office workspaces, hybrid work practices, and the return to work in downtown areas, which has been trending upward.
The APA Board of Directors, AICP Commission, Divisions Council Executive Committee, and other volunteer groups have already held meetings in the new office this summer. The expectation is for the space to comfortably and efficiently serve the needs of staff and members well into the future.
Top image: iStock/Getty Images Plus - stevegeer
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