According to CNBC, McDonald's headquarters has moved to Chicago. McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook stated that the new facility is located in Chicago's West Loop, an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its trendy restaurants. It is here that Easterbook foresees the company cultivating top talent and tapping into emerging food crazes.
The global fast food chain used to be located in Oak Brook, Illinois, about 30 minutes from Chicago's city center. McDonald's left Chicago and moved to the suburbs in 1971 to accommodate its rapid expansion. Inside this location is a McDonald's restaurant that is open to the public and showcases menu items from around the world, including the McSpicy Chicken Sandwich from Hong Kong, Cheese & Bacon Loaded fries from Australia and the Mozza Salad from France.The second floor of the new building is McDonald's "Hamburger University", where the company trains its managers. The training program was founded by Fred Turner, who rose from grill man to McDonald's senior chairman, in the basement of a restaurant in Elk Grove Village in 1961.
One floor above is McDonald's test kitchen where the company experiments on new sandwiches and sauces.There is also a McCafe with barista style coffee and Canadian pastries.
McDonald's has created "work neighborhoods" for its employees. These spaces feature open floor plans that give staff the flexibility to pick what type of environment best suits their needs during the day. Each neighborhood has huddle rooms, communal tables, individual workstations, private phone rooms and personal lockers. There are also about 300 conference rooms equipped with video presentation technology and a conference center large enough for 700 people. The company's fitness center is on the ninth floor with several outdoor terraces with views of the city.
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According to Sterling Bay, McDonald's Corporation's global headquarters sits on the former site of Harpo Studios and is a build-to-suit collaboration between Sterling Bay, McDonald's and Gensler Architects. This 550,000 square foot building will feature prime retail along Randolph Street, public spaces and indoor parking. Sterling Bay will turn the building over to McDonald's in early 2018.
Per McDonald's News Room, Brittany McDonaough, a six year McDonald's employee and co-chair of the company's Young Professionals Network told those gathered at the grand opening "McDonald's move back to Chicago reinforces its commitment to emerging leaders who value increased opportunities to be part of a dynamic cultural and civic community." The LEED certifiable building reflects McDonald's commitment to sustainability. All waste produced in the test kitchens will be composted and the building also features a green roof. Throughout the building are nods to McDonald's heritage including museum quality displays of Happy Meal toys, vintage memorabilia and a tribute wall to McDonald's groundbreaking leaders, inventors and owner-operators.
Interiors were designed by IA Interior Architects and Studio O+A and the general contractors were McHugh and ECI Executive Construction Inc. McDonald's office space, including Hamburger University will occupy 490,000 square feet of the building.
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