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Motorola Solutions hopes to lease 2 buildings

After more than 45 years, Motorola's legendary Schaumburg campus is putting two major buildings on the market for lease to outside companies, which could bring more jobs to the local economy.

After Motorola Inc. split on Jan. 4, the remaining Motorola Mobility equipment was transferred to Libertyville, so more space opened at the Motorola Solutions headquarters, located off Algonquin and Meacham roads.

“It was a lot like Swiss cheese,” said Delmer “Buddy” Knipfer, Motorola Solutions director for global real estate strategy and operations.

The moves left vacant the so-called Parts Building, used primarily as a warehouse with about 260,000 square feet, and the IT Building, which has specialized devices and equipment with about 170,000 square feet. Both will be available for lease.

The income from the leases could help Motorola cover the costs of maintaining and operating the buildings, Knipfer said.

“We believe this also will help bring more jobs back to the area by leasing these buildings,” he said.

Knipser said Motorola Solutions will continue to own the buildings. A broker will market the two buildings with a goal of signing tenants by the end of this year. The leases will have options to allow Motorola Solutions to get the buildings back for use if it needs them for expansion, he said.

Both Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility continue to have offices at 223 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

The possibility of more workers coming to such a visible location is reassuring, said Schaumburg President Al Larson.

“They said they're committed to Schaumburg,” Larson said. “And it's a prime location with easy access to (Route) 53 and the expressways. It will also bring more employees here who can eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores and bring guests in who can use our hotels.”

In late January, Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown said his company is committed to keeping the global headquarters in Schaumburg, unlike Motorola Mobility, which is considering other locations besides Libertyville.

The storied Schaumburg campus, which stretches from Algonquin Road to the I-90 Tollway, has had a long history of expansion until the dot-com bust and the recession forced restructuring.

In 1964, Motorola Inc. acquired a 316-acre site in Schaumburg, then known as the John Freise farm. Motorola began constructing a 674,000-square-foot facility on that property in 1966 to house the company's Communications Division, which supplied two-way radio systems and equipment.

Operations began at the facility in 1967. Other business operations continued at the previous Motorola Communications Division facility, 4545 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago.

In 1969, the Motorola Communications Division began building an addition in Schaumburg that became the new administrative headquarters. It opened in 1971.

In 1973, Motorola broke ground for its new corporate world headquarters building on the Motorola Schaumburg campus. It included a 12-story office building and an adjacent two-story annex to house a computer services center and a cafeteria, which opened in 1976.

In the 1980s, Motorola continued to expand the buildings at its Schaumburg campus. The Motorola Galvin Center for Continuing Education opened in 1986 and included classrooms, breakout rooms and an auditorium.

In 1989, Motorola broke ground on an east wing addition to the Galvin Center. The building, designed to house the Motorola Museum of Electronics and the Corporate Archives, was completed in 1990. After installing exhibits and transferring the company's heritage collections, the facility opened in 1991.

In 1992, Motorola completed a west wing addition to the Galvin Center that doubled the size of the facility.

  Schaumburg officials hope Motorola SolutionsÂ’ plans to lease two buildings at the Schaumburg campus, including the former IT Building, above, will bring more jobs to the area. Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
In 1964, Motorola acquired a 316-acre site in Schaumburg to be used for manufacturing and administrative facilities. The property, formerly the John Freise farm, was located at the southwest corner of Algonquin and Meacham roads. Today, the site is the global headquarters for Motorola Solutions. Photo courtesy of Motorola