Deloitte expanding, opening new office in downtown Kitchener
Deloitte is expanding its business in Waterloo Region, with plans to open a new office at 195 Joseph St. in Kitchener by 2017.
The company — which provides audit, tax, consulting, as well as financial and enterprise risk advisory services around the world — said it will be moving its current office on King Street East and hiring more staff in the process.
Right now the company employs about 170 people in Waterloo Region but in the new space Deloitte plans to grow to a 200-person team and may expand further, regional managing partner Peter Barr told CBC News.
This is the innovation engine of the country.- Peter Barr, managing partner for Deloitte's Waterloo Region office
"We are using the space to leverage some new service opportunities to offer our clients in the local market so we expect that number to continue to grow," Barr said.
The new office is located on a property known for its historic smokestack emerging from the middle of a parking lot in downtown Kitchener, directly behind The Tannery.
Heritage meets high-tech
Toronto-based real estate development firm Allied Properties REIT has been contracted to do the work, with plans to restore the old warehouse and develop the surrounding parking lot in the high-tech-meets-heritage style characteristic of nearby buildings at The Tannery and Breithaupt Block.
"This is the innovation engine of the country," said Barr.
"We believe in that and think it's very synonymous with our own brand so we're very happy to be a part of that and help part of the restoration of downtown Kitchener."
The new space will feature sunken outdoor gardens, a glass atrium as well as largely open-concept office space.
"It is definitely going to be a very modern workspace," Barr said.
Barr said the company plans to be working out of its new space by fall 2017.