Global leader in energy-based medical and aesthetic solutions expands its U.S. operations to Fulton East and establishes company’s first U.S.-based Sisram Wellness Center in building’s ground-floor retail space
Alma, a world-leading provider of aesthetic medical technologies and energy-based solutions for the surgical, medical aesthetics and beauty markets, opened doors today to the full ninth floor at Fulton East, a 12-story, 90,000-square-foot office and retail building at 215 N. Peoria St. in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market District developed by Parkside Realty, Inc. Additionally, Alma announced it will occupy the full ground-floor retail space in the building later this year.
“The city of Chicago is proud to add Alma to the growing list of global companies that call Fulton Market home,” said Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., whose 27th Ward encompasses Fulton Market. “Fulton Market is a powerful economic engine, ranking as the most in-demand area of the city for office users and residents. With a dynamic mix of offices, restaurants, retail, hospitality and housing, it’s the embodiment of the live/work/play experience in an area that has a powerful combination of the city’s leading tech businesses, financial firms, life sciences enterprises, corporate headquarters and design showrooms. There’s really no other urban neighborhood in the country that compares to our ward.”
Spanning 10,605 square feet, the ninth floor of Fulton East will serve as the central location for the North American operation team of Alma, while the 5,025-square-foot retail space – with frontage on Peoria Street – will house the company’s first U.S.-based Sisram Wellness Center, offering the Chicago community access to a comprehensive portfolio of innovative aesthetic and wellness services. Sisram Wellness Center is currently projected to open in early May 2023.
This expansion will include the relocation of nearly half of Alma’s corporate employees to Fulton East and accommodate the company’s continued growth and future market development plans while retaining its existing distribution operation at 485 Half Day Road in Buffalo Grove, Ill.
As the burgeoning epicenter of business and technology in Chicago, Fulton Market was selected as the ideal location for Alma, allowing it to tap into the neighborhood’s diverse talent pool and abundant retail, restaurant and hospitality offerings – all of which have drawn leading national and international employers to what has become one of the nation’s hottest office markets.
“The decision to expand our presence into Fulton Market was a necessary step in our business growth strategy,” said Keith Adams, president of Alma North America. “We will utilize this opportunity to accommodate the rapid growth we’ve experienced while leveraging the city’s diverse population to establish our first U.S.-based Sisram Wellness Center.”
Jonathan Metzl of Cushman & Wakefield represented Alma in the lease, while Katie Scott and Camille Julmy of Parkside Realty represented ownership.
“Fulton Market is a place where cutting-edge firms like Alma can thrive, and Fulton East was designed to stand out in one of the most competitive and sought-after office submarkets in the U.S.,” said Katie Scott, director of leasing for Fulton East. “Offering biophilic design, first-in-market health and wellness features, and a walkable location in the heart of Fulton Market at 215 N. Peoria St., Fulton East affords full-floor customization, privacy and security to companies that understand the critical role offices will play in attracting and retaining talent.”
Designed and built by Chicago-based Clayco and its architectural subsidiary, Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Fulton East combines biophilic design elements with modern health technology to distinguish itself as the office building of the future. Its high-tech touchless features include the world’s first-to-market installation of MAD Elevator Inc.’s Toe-To-Go (T2G) hands-free elevator system and the first multi-story office building installation of airPHX (“air fix”) non-thermal, plasma technology, proved in hospital settings to reduce 94% to 98% of all pathogens including viruses, bacteria and mold spores – both on surfaces and in the air – to provide employees with a cleaner, safer work environment.
Each floor of Fulton East offers nearly 11,000 square feet of space, with 11-foot-4-inch floor-to-ceiling windows that flood interiors with natural light and offer unobstructed city views, as well as 9-by-27-foot private outdoor balconies on every floor. The building’s 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden terrace, reserved exclusively for tenant use, features skyline views, fire pits and a grilling station, along with easily moveable outdoor furniture to accommodate small groups for dining, collaborating or relaxing. A specially designed large-screen video wall with state-of-the-art connectivity can be utilized for larger presentations, training sessions, sports viewing and social gatherings.
Fulton East’s innovative design has earned industry praise. The LEED-certified building won the 2021 Illinois Real Estate Journal awards for Best Office Project and Best Technology Pivot and was a finalist for the annual Chicagoland Real Estate Awards for both Development and Developer of the Year. Also in 2021, the building was featured at the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Fall Meeting as a groundbreaking model for future office design; recognized by Forbes as one of the first office buildings designed for the post-COVID-19 environment; and recently earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), an evidence-based, third-party certification of best practices in building operation and management for mitigating illnesses, enhancing employee productivity and improving overall building wellness.
Designed with rich tones and earthy materials by nationally acclaimed interior designer Holly Hunt, Fulton East’s lobby serves as a warm welcome to tenants of the boutique building. It includes an iconic light fixture by renowned product designer David Weeks, as well as a dramatic reception desk featuring Anorthosite stone from Quebec that was fabricated by Chicago-based GI Stone. Meanwhile, the building’s exterior features the nation’s most prominent installation of Prodema, a natural, sustainable and weatherproof wood cladding, in a modern design tribute to Fulton Market’s many historic, landmarked timber and brick building exteriors.
Fulton East, home to Calamos Investments and global flooring design firm Tarkett, sits directly across from the global headquarters of Mondelēz. The surrounding Fulton Market neighborhood also is home to McDonald’s corporate headquarters; Kimberly-Clark’s North American Commercial Center; tech campuses for Google, Glassdoor and Dyson; showrooms and offices for leading design firms Knoll, Herman Miller, Allsteel, Teknion and others; and prominent advertising, professional and financial services firms. Many of the city’s most popular hotels, restaurants, cafes and retailers are within a five-minute walk of the building, which also offers easy access to public transit.
Visit LoopNet for a virtual tour of Fulton East and for more details about the property. For leasing and customization inquiries, contact Katie Scott at (312) 218-6347 or ks@fulton-east.com, or Camille Julmy at (312) 259-5663 or cj@fulton-east.com.
About Alma:
Alma is a global innovator of Laser, Light-based, Radiofrequency, Plasma, and Ultrasound solutions for the aesthetic and surgical markets. We enable practitioners to offer safe and effective procedures while allowing patients to benefit from state-of-the-art, clinically proven technologies and treatments. For more information, visit the company’s website: http://www.almainc.com.
About Fulton East:
Fulton East, an award-winning 12-story, 90,000-square-foot office and retail building located at 215 N. Peoria St. in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, is the nation’s first next-generation office building designed to specifically address employee health, safety and wellness in today’s post-COVID-19 environment. The LEED-certified development features new, leading-edge products, such as Canada-based MAD Elevator Inc.’s new Toe-To-Go (T2G) hands-free elevator system and airPHX (“air fix”) non-thermal, plasma technology throughout the entire building to help reduce cross-contamination risks and provide employees with cleaner air and work surfaces. In 2021, Fulton East won Best Technology Pivot and Best Office Project awards at the Illinois Real Estate Journal’s annual Real Estate Awards. Visit fulton-east.com.
About Parkside Realty, Inc.:
Led by veteran developers Bob Wislow and Camille Julmy, Parkside Realty, Inc. operates under a long-term, generational ownership structure. After developing its properties, Parkside directly leases and manages them, maintaining a successful, proven hands-on approach. Parkside listens to its valued tenants and provides top quality, efficient, sustainable and cost-effective solutions to improve business operations and employee engagement. Committed to urban development, especially in Chicago, the executive team has served for years in civic and industry leadership roles with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Development Council, Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago. They have received the Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence four times, and Wislow is a distinguished recipient of the Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.
About Cushman & Wakefield:
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 52,000 employees in over 400 offices and approximately 60 countries. In 2022, the firm had revenue of $10.1 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter.
