Deloitte expands into Innovation District
Kitchener’s downtown is continuing to attract global brands interested in capitalizing on the strength of the city’s Innovation District – most recently attracting the attention of one of the world’s most well-respected consulting companies, Deloitte (opens in new window).
Located in the heart of Kitchener, the Innovation District is a concentrated cluster of creative-tech talent – startups, incubators and collaborators – that are building Kitchener’s reputation as a destination for innovation. In early 2015, Deloitte located an ‘innovation lab’ in Communitech’s (opens in new window) space at the Tannery – a concept that worked so well for them, they decided to relocate their Kitchener office downtown. Deloitte will renovate and turn one of the city’s most significant historic spaces – the former ‘Hide House’ at 195 Joseph Street (opens in new window) – into their new regional office.
The Kitchener office is part of Deloitte’s national effort to reimagine its workplaces across the country. Dubbed ‘the workplace of the future,’ the new space will be more social, more flexible, more technological and free of internal ‘silos,’ introducing more collaborative workspaces to spark innovation; as well as, physical connection points through the office to provide employees with a choice in the way they approach work.
Deloitte chose to leverage the redevelopment opportunity presented by 195 Joseph Street to become a major part of Kitchener’s innovation story. “We have deep roots in Kitchener and we’re a proud member of the business community,” said Peter Barr, Managing Partner for Waterloo Region, Deloitte. “With its focus on technology, the region is fast becoming a real driver of the Canadian economy. Innovative solutions to today’s local business challenges are paramount. Our new office is designed specifically to foster innovative thinking to meet these challenges head-on and deliver the best to our clients.”
Working with Allied REIT (opens in new window), Deloitte’s vision for the property is one that fits with the Innovation District’s aesthetic – former large industrial spaces transformed into inventive office spaces and residential lofts. “We’re committed to preserving and modernizing Kitchener’s built legacy in the Innovation District,” said Michael Emory, Allied’s President and CEO. “With Deloitte’s commitment to 195 Joseph Street, we’ll be able to revitalize a heritage structure that was once perceived to be at risk, transforming it into fully modern workspace and an integral part of The Tannery.”
195 Joseph Street is strategically located close to educational and transportation amenities (including a future major transportation hub), the district appeals to the growing number of people looking to get the most out of an urban lifestyle.