Salesforce celebrates grand opening of Chicago Tower in River North

Global software giant Salesforce celebrated the official opening of the Salesforce Tower Chicago in River North on Tuesday. Mayor Brandon Johnson joined company executives for a ceremonial ribbon cutting and applauded the company for its ongoing commitment to Chicago.

Construction on the 57-story Salesforce Tower Chicago was completed earlier this year after six years of development. The San Francisco-based company first welcomed its staff to the tower in May, allowing employees time to acclimate to the new space before opening the facilities to the public.

The tower is the product of a years-long effort by the company to unite its Chicago workforce in the heart of the city. Salesforce previously operated several Chicago-area offices, with two in River North and one in Naperville, according to Salesforce officials.

Salesforce’s EVP of Real Estate and Workplace Services, Relina Bulchandani, says the company has long sought to bring its Chicago employees together under one roof, in line with the company’s culture of collaborative work.

“[O]ur philosophy is coming to one space, vertically integrated, to make sure there are moments of connection”, said Bulchandani in a statement, “We didn’t want to have offices all over, we wanted to be in one space.”

The Salesforce Tower boasts state-of-the-art facilities geared towards enhancing employee comfortability, fostering community, and accommodating different kinds of workflows. 

On the employee floors, workers are encouraged to come together in communal areas and collaborate as a team. When solitary work is needed, employees can retreat to one of the floor's ‘focus pods', tech-free rooms designed for concentrated, individual work.

The office spaces include large conference rooms for team meetings and work spaces designed for smaller group brainstorming sessions. Outside of work areas, the offices also feature a cafe area and kitchen, a meditation room for mindfulness respites, and lounges for socializing and relaxing during breaks.

The Salesforce Tower Chicago is the company’s most sustainable building to date, according to company executives. The tower is powered entirely by electric systems, meaning no fossil fuels are used to generate energy on-site. 

The building is on track to receive LEED Gold Certification for its exteriors, LEED Platinum certification for its interiors, and Zero Carbon Certification. These certifications recognize the building as a shining example of green building and affirm Salseforce’s commitment to sustainable development.

Sustainability is also expressed through the naturalistic interior design of the Salesforce Tower.  “Nature is at the forefront of a lot of our designs'', says Bulchandani. 

Much of the tower’s interior furnishings are made from recycled materials, including the flooring, ceiling tiles, and chairs. Offices are adorned with lush plant life, giving every space an organic and serene atmosphere.

Salesforce prioritizes accessibility at its facilities by providing ADA access to those using mobility aids, as well as accommodations for other physical disabilities. 

The company's accessibility features also extend to those with neurodiverse capabilities. Employees are given access to a variety of office settings tailored to their unique workflow, allowing for an inclusive, individualized work environment.

“What we do is we listen, learn, and integrate”, says Bulchandani, noting that employee feedback plays a significant role in how Salesforce structures its spaces, taking into consideration the different ways in which its staff members work.

Like many large companies in the post-pandemic era, Salesforce has been faced with the task of restructuring its approach to in-office work on a broad scale. Salesforce is reimagining the office as a place where employees can feel comfortable and in control of their approach to work.  

“We’ve been incredibly focused on learning through the pandemic,” says Bulchandani, “...how do employees want to work today, how does hybrid work work”. 

According to Bulchandani, the company has adopted a schedule wherein different teams report to the office on different days. Salesforce’s hybrid method demonstrates that employee choice and flexibility are key elements of the post-pandemic work model.

Salesforce publicly debuted its O’Hana floors at the opening ceremony, which cover two levels of gathering space located on the top floors of the Salesforce Tower. The floors provide expansive views of the city and additional room for employees to work and socialize throughout the day. 

The O’Hana floors include multiple lounge areas, meeting rooms, an outdoor deck, and a fully staffed coffee bar. Named for the Hawaiian word for family, the O’Hana floors represent Salesforce’s core mission of bringing people together. 

The floors are made available to local nonprofits as a space for hosting fundraising events at no cost. According to Salesforce officials, the O’Hana floors have raised more than $100 million for local communities to date.

During the opening ceremony, Mayor Johnson gave a speech emphasizing the value of the Salesforce Chicago Tower and applauding the company’s dedication to fostering growth in the city.

“(T)his new tower, the latest and greatest addition to our skyline, is not only a symbol of (Salesforce’s) commitment to Chicago, but your achievements as a company,” said Johnson.

“As Mayor, I’m thrilled to see any company thrive in our great city, particularly one that is very much mission-driven.”

Johnson commended Salesforce for its continued efforts to give back to the city, including the dedication of $16 million in grants to local nonprofits and 270 thousand employee volunteer hours to the community.

Salesforce has pledged an additional $1.25 million in grants to support Chicago and Illinois communities with mental health services and early educational resources. 

“It's that type of spirit, it's that type of commitment, that allows us to bring our communities together”, Johnson added.

In 2018, the company committed to adding 1,000 jobs to the Chicago community by 2023, and met that goal ahead of schedule. Salesforce officials have stated the company remains focused on growth in the coming years, welcoming new local talent while continuing to provide exceptional service to its customers and the city of Chicago.