WMS inaugurated its new technology development center at Chicago Campus

Brian Gamache, CEO and Chairman of the Board of WMS Industries, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Alderman Richard Mell (33rd Ward), Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (6th District), Illinois Representative Deborah Mell (40th District) and hundreds of employees from WMS Industries, joined together for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The reflective five-story building is located at 2718 Roscoe Street in the Avondale community and mirrors the Chicago River to the east. Increasing the size of the WMS Chicago Technology Campus by 50 percent to 32,516 sqm, the facility will accommodate up to 225 employees, including game design and development, product management and Williams Interactive teams.  The structure features an atrium with a signature folded roof, four game development studios, two game laboratories, two product testing showrooms, a 120-seat auditorium, offices and team collaboration areas. 

Now one of Chicago’s interesting places to work, the building also will house a variety of employee amenity areas for the more than 600 Chicago employees at the Technology Campus, including dining facilities with a patio overlooking the Chicago River, a fitness center, a basketball/volleyball court and an employee lounge with ping-pong, pool tables and Wii, Xbox and PlayStation video game consoles. Perhaps, the best feature is the skyline terrace. Modeled after some of Chicago’s most hospitable outdoor rooftop terraces, employees will have unobstructed views of the city’s spectacular skyline.

Brian Gamache, WMS CEO and Chairman, commented, “This state-of-the-art addition to our Chicago Technology Campus is a very visible part of WMS’ ongoing commitment as an “Employer of Choice” to provide a stimulating, desirable and sustainable workplace environment. We expect the building’s design will further inspire employee creativity and productivity, deepen our legendary ‘Culture of Innovation,’ while preserving environmental resources.”

The new facility, which is expected to receive the highest designation for environmentally sustainable construction under the Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, includes a living roof designed to absorb sunlight and improve insulation, an outdoor terrace with plantings of grasses and flowering plants; a rain harvesting system with underground storage; a computer-controlled, advanced building system linking sunlight and temperature to automatic window shades and lighting, and other environmental benefits.  The green rooftop complements ground-level improvements including a river-side courtyard with benches, new trees and plantings, decorative lighting and bicycle racks.

Mayor Emanuel said, “For more than 65 years, WMS has been an outstanding corporate citizen and an engine of economic growth in the Avondale neighborhood. This new facility will allow WMS to continue to grow, thrive and create jobs for the hardworking residents of the City of Chicago, while contributing to the ongoing beautification and revitalization of the Chicago River and adjacent community.”

Just across the river, in Clark Park, is the site that will house the Chicago Park District’s new Clark Park boathouse.

Alderman Richard Mell said, “Over the years, WMS has provided significant long-term employment growth in the 33rd Ward, and this new landmark development center will provide WMS room to accommodate further growth and job creation. In addition, the building and accompanying beautification of the river front are a great improvement to the community.”

Gamache added, “We are proud to call the great city of Chicago our home and to have been a responsible member of our neighborhood for nearly 65 years.  This expansion is clear evidence of our dedication to be a good corporate citizen.”

Guests and WMS executives, including Orrin J. Edidin, President of WMS Industries and President and CEO of its Williams Interactive subsidiary, Ken Lochiatto, Executive Vice President of WMS Industries and President and Chief Operations Officer of WMS Gaming, and Scott Schweinfurth, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Operator and Treasurer and Michael Alvarez, Water Reclamation Commissioner, City of Chicago, toured the building after the ribbon cutting.