Today marks an important milestone in the construction of Salesforce Tower Chicago — our eighth global tower — as we celebrate the “Topping off” of one of Salesforce’s most sustainable buildings to date.
In partnership with Hines, the project’s developer, we are hosting a “Topping off” ceremony to signify the near completion of the structural phase of the building. It’s an opportunity for us to thank the construction crews, architects, engineers — and anyone who had a hand in the development of the building — for all their incredible work bringing Salesforce Tower Chicago to life over the last four years.
When we announced the building in 2018, we made a public commitment to our growth in Chicago with a pledge to add 1,000 jobs over the next five years. Today, we’ve met that commitment more than a year ahead of schedule. We’ve also been able to scale our amazing culture in the area, and are proud to say that Salesforce has been named one of Chicago’s best workplaces for five consecutive years.
This has been an exciting journey for Salesforce, and we’re thrilled to be part of something that will have a lasting impact on Chicago and its skyline.
Salesforce Tower Chicago — built with sustainability in mind
At Salesforce, our offices are physical expressions of our culture and our values, including our newest core value — sustainability.
- Salesforce Tower Chicago is on track to achieve LEED v4 Gold Certification for the exterior of the building, while the interiors are on track to achieve LEED v4 Platinum Certification, the highest rating level offered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The tower is also on track to achieve Zero Carbon Certification, offered by the International Living Future Institute.
- The building is all-electric, meaning there is no on-site use of fossil fuels. This allows 100% of the energy to be matched by Salesforce’s Renewable Energy commitment while enabling the building to fully benefit from the City of Chicago’s clean energy transition.
- It is also the first building in Chicago to require Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to quantify the embodied carbon emissions of concrete and steel, resulting in a 19% overall reduction in carbon emissions compared to the industry average.
The finished tower will feature our global design standards, which use healthy and sustainable materials. The interiors will embody the look and feel of Salesforce’s existing office spaces. This means plenty of natural light and materials, such as carpet that is carbon neutral and made with 100% recycled nylon from recovered fishing nets.
Every floor will include social lounges and increased collaboration space in line with our new way of working, as well as mindfulness zones to encourage wellbeing. Salesforce is also pursuing Fitwel certification, the world’s leading certification system for buildings and communities that prioritize wellness.
Giving back: Salesforce’s commitment to Chicago
As Salesforce has grown in Chicago, so has our ability to give back to the local community. Through our 1-1-1 philanthropic model, Salesforce has contributed $6.4 million in grants to local non-profits, and our employees have volunteered more than 221,000 hours in the Chicago area.
Soon, Salesforce Tower Chicago will also welcome the community to the building’s ‘Ohana Floors. These floors are dedicated spaces for our employees and their guests to enjoy during the day, and for nonprofit and community events on nights and weekends.
A landmark at the convergence of the Chicago River
We’re honored that, through this project, Salesforce will become a fixture in Chicago’s incredible architectural legacy. Since 2018, we’ve watched Salesforce Tower Chicago go from a hole in the ground to a 821-foot tall, 57-story skyscraper.
The building is situated at the convergence of the north and south branches of the Chicago River in the heart of Chicago’s historic River North neighborhood. Adjacent to the tower is a 4-acre public park, offering terraced, tree-shaded lawns and seating with views of the river. The building is also steps away from the newly designed Chicago Riverwalk, a 1.25 mile stretch of the Chicago River connecting the lakefront with the Chicago Loop and offering access to public art, local vendors, restaurants, and public parks.
We’re excited to start welcoming our employees to Salesforce Tower Chicago in the spring of 2023. We know it will serve as a space where everyone — our employees, customers, partners, Trailblazers, and the community — can come together to collaborate, innovate, learn, give back, and succeed.
Learn more about our Success from Anywhere Real Estate Strategy here.
