Lego Leases 100K SF In Boston For New Americas HQ
Danish toymaker Lego unveiled the location Monday for its new Americas headquarters in Boston.
The company announced it is leasing over 100K SF at Samuels & Associates' P12 development, an under-construction, air-rights project that is bridging the Back Bay and Fenway neighborhoods.
The deal was highly anticipated after the company said in January it plans to relocate its Americas headquarters from Connecticut to Boston. The Lego Group President Skip Kodak said the choice was made because of the developer's sustainability efforts and the building's proximity to a "diverse talent pool."
“This move aligns with our long-term growth strategy and underscores our commitment to remaining at the forefront of innovation," Kodak said in a statement. "Boston is one of the United States’ most livable cities, with world-class arts and leisure activities, education and research partners, and a thriving business community."
The toymaker plans to move into the space, which spans five floors at 1001 Boylston St., between mid-2025 and the end of 2026. It also plans to close its current headquarters in Enfield, Connecticut, at the end of 2026.
Lego opened that facility in 1975 as a factory and warehouse before it became an office. The office is home to 740 of its 2,600 employees. The new Americas headquarters will bring on employees from the Enfield office and its Lego Education office in Boston's Back Bay.
Lego has been growing in other markets, breaking ground on its new 1.7M SF factory in Virginia in April. The company announced plans to invest $1B into that 340-acre site in June 2022, and the project is planned to bring over 1,700 jobs to the area. It is expected to be completed in 2025, according to a press release.
Lego's new home will be at Samuels' 655K SF air-rights project that is underway over the Massachusetts Turnpike. The developer finished constructing a deck over the highway last summer, allowing it to go vertical on the buildings.
“We can think of no better global company for this site than the LEGO Group; it has been a transformative leader in inspiring young minds and fostering the next generation of creative thinkers, builders and community planners," Samuels & Associates Chairman Steve Samuels said in a statement.
In 2019, automotive tech company CarGurus signed a 15-year lease for 11 floors totaling 275K SF at Samuels' P12 development. The P12 development includes two buildings: one 20-story, 450K SF office and lab building that Lego and CarGurus will occupy, and a 150K SF citizenM hotel.
Both leases have represented wins for Boston's office market, which has continued to worsen since the height of the pandemic. The lease also presents a win for city officials who have been making moves to revitalize Boston's struggling downtown.
“I’m thrilled that LEGO has chosen to establish its new North American headquarters in Boston,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Samuels team for their work to add to the vibrancy and vitality of the Back Bay neighborhood and their ongoing partnership with the city in creating a state-of-the-art home for LEGO that will be family-friendly, sustainable and welcoming to all.”
