City, state leaders hope deliberate Discovery Partners Institute, rededicated Accenture Tower will convey staff again

CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago metropolis and Illinois state leaders are hoping their announcement of two new constructing initiatives will lure Chicago staff again downtown in individual.

As CBS 2’s Marissa Perlman reported Friday, a putting dome of metal and glass alongside the South Branch of the Chicago River will home the long run Discovery Partners Institute.

The DPI is a challenge from the University of Illinois that can convey an educational and analysis facility to the South Loop riverfront.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. JB Pritzker have been each current as a mannequin was unveiled Friday.

“The new DPI headquarters will house offices, classrooms, labs, and event space along the Chicago River – turning a long-vacant, old railyard into a world-class talent and innovation powerhouse, with the aesthetic to match,” Pritzker mentioned.

Leaders hope the event will propel Chicago ahead as a tech metropolis, and encourage engineering, tech, and enterprise expertise to remain within the metropolis.

“There has been a lot of talented engineering talent moving to the coasts, and in part, that’s part of our whole exercise here is to keep them in the state,” mentioned Timothy Killeen, president of the University of Illinois.

The DPI challenge is predicted to interrupt floor in 2024. It would be the first to start out development in The 78 innovation district – a 62-acre website alongside the River’s South Branch that can join the South Loop and Chinatown.

Meanwhile, Accenture – a worldwide consulting agency – formally opened its 264,000 world Chicago headquarters at 500 W. Madison St. within the West Loop Gate on Friday. The constructing – previously named the Northwestern Atrium Center and the Citigroup Center – has now been renamed the Accenture Tower.

Mayor Lightfoot was additionally readily available for the ribbon-cutting at Accenture Tower on Friday.

“Welcome back to a city that’s missed you,” the mayor mentioned.

The firm took over seven renovated flooring within the 40-story high-rise, which is related to the Ogilvie Transportation Center.

Despite document downtown workplace vacancies in Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot  hopes the corporate’s 6,500 workers will assist revitalize the downtown financial system.

“Your neighbors have missed you. The small businesses that have been built up in this tower and around the area that really depend upon you being here – we missed being together,” Mayor Lightfoot mentioned. “You can’t build culture and teams by being apart.”