CHICAGO – McDonald’s Corp. officially opened its new nine-story corporate headquarters in the West Loop neighborhood of downtown Chicago on June 4. The previous headquarters resided in Oak Brook, Illinois, from 1971 until 2018.

Steve Easterbrook, president and CEO of McDonald’s Corp, unveiled the new 490,000-sq.-ft. building to with employees, owner-operators, suppliers and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on hand. 

“Our move back home to Chicago is about more than a building – it’s symbolic of our journey to transform our brand and become more closely connected with our customers,” Easterbrook said. “Our new location enables us to better listen, learn and engage with our customers whilst providing a modern, worker-friendly headquarters that fosters collaboration and re-energizes employees. We are thrilled to join the West Loop and add to the vitality of this community.”

McDonald’s corporate offices were based in Chicago from 1955 to 1971.

About 2,000 employees will work from the new location, which will also include Hamburger Univ., one of seven state-of-the-art learning centers for the company’s future leaders and employees.

The new building will also feature “work neighborhoods” where McDonald’s employees can choose which environment suits their work habits. Neighborhoods includes huddle rooms, communal tables, workstations, private phone rooms and personal lockers.

McDonald’s mixed the old with the new as well. Displays of Happy Meal toys and vintage memorabilia are placed throughout the building.