Converse Inc., a subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., announced plans to relocate its world headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts in April 2015. The move to downtown Boston follows an extensive search for a new company headquarters in the greater Boston metropolitan area. The new office space will be developed as part of the revitalized Lovejoy Wharf project led by Related Companies and The Beal Companies adjacent to the North End area of the city. The investment supports Converse’s long-term business growth and commitment to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The announcement was made at the Parkman House where Mayor Thomas M. Menino was joined by Jim Calhoun, President & CEO of Converse, Jennifer McCool, Senior Vice President of Related Companies and Peter Spellios, Senior Vice President of The Beal Companies.
“Converse was founded a few miles outside of Boston more than 100 years ago and we are honored to be part of this thriving business community and the city’s well known cultural hub of innovation and creativity,” said Jim Calhoun, President and CEO of Converse. “We are thrilled to establish our new home in Boston and look forward to growing with the city in the years to come.”
“They say that wearing Converse makes a statement about a person. Well, I want to say that Converse moving its world headquarters to Boston makes a statement about our city,” Mayor Menino said. “Converse and Boston are a perfect marriage. Two venerable and classic brands that are also constantly evolving. The move to Lovejoy Wharf will revitalize this historic northern gateway, while giving Converse access to a young, talented urban workforce.”
Converse has signed a long-term lease with co-developers Related Companies and Boston-based Beal Companies for commercial space in 160 North Washington Street in downtown Boston. The site, a waterfront parcel within Boston’s North Station area, sits between the Leonard P. Zakim Bridge and the Washington Street-Charlestown Bridge will be completely renovated for Converse, the current dilapidated wharf will be demolished and replaced with approximately three-quarters of an acre of new publicly-accessible waterfront open space, and a new two-story pavilion building will be constructed and occupied by Converse.
Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies said, “As the co-developers of The Clarendon, One Back Bay and most recently 100 Arlington Street, we have long been bullish on the future of the City of Boston under Mayor Menino’s leadership. We are pleased that Converse has chosen Lovejoy Wharf for its new world headquarters and to be partnering with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and The Beal Companies to transform the site and open up the waterfront to the public for the very first time. Together, we will create a dynamic office location with vibrant retail and grand public spaces and reestablish Lovejoy Wharf as a gateway location to the City of Boston.”
“We are proud that a first class company like Converse is making a first class city like Boston its new home. Thanks to the unparalleled leadership of Mayor Menino the City of Boston continues to distinguish itself as the premier place to live and work," said Peter Spellios, a Senior Vice President of The Beal Companies.
Converse has hired architect, Jennifer Carpenter, to design and transform the more than 186,000 square foot space into a workplace that will foster the creativity and expression true to the essence of the brand. Carpenter has collaborated with Converse to create its retail spaces and other Converse projects throughout the U.S.
As part of its new headquarters, Converse will open its second Converse Rubber Tracks, a state-of-the-art music studio dedicated to providing emerging artists with the opportunity to record. Converse Rubber Tracks first launched in Brooklyn, New York in July 2011 and has since become a hub for artists to cultivate their craft and facilitate self-expression.
About Converse
Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including men's, women's and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 74 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at www.converse.com.
About Related Companies
Related Companies is one of the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed 40 years ago, Related is a fully-integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisitions, management, finance, marketing and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, South Florida, Abu Dhabi, Sao Paulo and Shanghai and an existing portfolio of real estate assets, valued at over $15 billion, made up of best-in-class mixed-use, residential, retail, office, trade show and affordable properties. For more information about Related Companies please visit www.related.com.
About The Beal Companies
Established in Boston in 1888, The Beal Companies is one of the oldest and most respected real estate investment and development firms in the country. Beal invests in real estate on its own behalf, and on behalf of institutional and individual partners. Beal has restored many of Boston’s most iconic historic buildings, from the Grain Exchange Building and Custom House Tower in the Financial District to the Park Square Building in the Back Bay. At the same time, Beal was the first real estate company to develop incubator biotech space in the greater Boston area, opening the door to the state’s wildly successful life sciences and health care industries. For more information, visit Beal on the web at www.bealco.com.
Terri Hines / Converse / 646.563.7324 / terri.hines@converse.com
Melissa Garbayo / Converse / 646.563.7455 / melissa.garbayo@converse.com
Susan Elsbree / Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)
617.918.4426 / Susan.elsbree.bra@cityofboston.gov
Joanna Rose / Related Companies / 212.801.3902 / Jrose@related.com
Peter Spellios / The Beal Companies / 857.202.6011 / pspellios@bealco.com
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