Savills Studley Completes Historic Relocation for Knoll, Inc. in Chicago

Knoll, the iconic modern workplace and residential brand, is relocating to Chicago’s Fulton Market district. After nearly five decades as a focal presence in the city’s famed Merchandise Mart, recently rebranded as theMART, the company has leased 24,000 square feet of showroom and office space in Shapack Partners’ new 811 Fulton building at the corner of Fulton Market and Halsted Street.

Knoll, which celebrated its 80th anniversary at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April, is a constellation of people, brands and collaborators, including the great masters of 20th-century design and architecture as well as contemporary talents such as Antenna Design, David Adjaye, Marc Newson and David Rockwell. As a prestigious anchor tenant, the company will occupy the entire sixth and seventh floors and part of the fifth floor in the seven-story 811 Fulton, and will enjoy crown signage on the building exterior. Knoll will move to 811 Fulton in January 2019.

The Savills Studley team of Renae Bradshaw, corporate managing director, and John Goodman and Robert Sevim, both vice chairmen, represented Knoll in the negotiations with Shapack Partners for the long-term lease, valued at more than $12 million.

“Knoll’s move to Fulton Market, Chicago’s hottest emerging neighborhood, reflects the distinguished brand’s forward-thinking philosophy and positions the company for the next stage of growth in the Chicago region,” said Bradshaw.

Benjamin Pardo, Knoll design director, added: “In 811 Fulton, Knoll has found an architectural setting that supports our interest in integrated design, and we expect it will energize the next generation of architects, designers and clients to create inspired modern interiors. The footprint is ideally suited to display our innovative products, many of which blur the traditional line between residential/hospitality and commercial furnishings.”

Construction is nearly complete on the 70,000-square-foot building, located at the gateway to the Fulton Market district and designed to offer retail spaces at ground level with office and showroom space on the floors above. The industrial-era, warehouse-style architecture features open floor plans and abundant windows that flood the interior with natural light. The building reflects and enhances the neighborhood, combining vintage charm with modern infrastructure.

“Knoll’s new showroom will offer an inviting atmosphere to welcome the design community as well as the brand’s commercial customers and dealers. Its location is ideal, just steps from Fulton Market’s best restaurants, bars, galleries and shopping, and easily accessible to public transit and the Kennedy Expressway,” said Goodman.

"The relocation also reflects the broader trend of companies providing millennials with lively, urban environments, including retail, convenience and cultural amenities, that support their focus on work-life integration,” added Sevim.