Boeing completes HQ move to Chicago

The Boeing Co. began operations on schedule in early September at its new world headquarters building in downtown Chicago.

Approximately 200 employees began unpacking and familiarizing themselves with the building, located on the Chicago River at 100 North Riverside.

The company expects approximately 400 employees to be working on the building's top 12 floors by the end of the year.

Boeing and a team of more than 70 subcontractors, vendors and consultants delivered the finished office space, sophisticated telecommunications system, and computing infrastructure on schedule after 117 days of focused, intense effort.

According to company officials, the aggressive schedule was driven by the company's commitment to employees with families to coordinate the opening with local school schedules.

Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit - on hand to officially commemorate the opening of the new Boeing World Headquarters during a ceremony in early September - announced in March a broad restructuring of the company that included the headquarters relocation.

In addition, the leaders of the company's business units were given increased authority and responsibility to run their operations based on the needs of their customers, markets and communities where they do business.

"Boeing is in the midst of many exciting changes, and our new world headquarters in Chicago is part of our ongoing transformation," Condit said.

"We intend to grow our enterprise here and create businesses that open frontiers and advance technology, while allowing our business leaders in other locations to drive their businesses to their full potential."

The building is designed with a vision of instant access to information by anyone from anywhere. More than 225 miles of data, communications and security cable were installed to support the more than 300 computers and 500 telephones needed on opening day.

Despite the move, company leaders reaffirmed the company's commitment to the Seattle area, where Boeing formerly was based.

"The Puget Sound area is still home to several major Boeing business units and more than 80,000 employees, representing our largest presence in any single location in the world," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and leader of the Boeing Puget Sound regional leadership team. "We remain excited about our business, our future and our participation in the Pacific Northwest community."

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