Northwestern Mutual to leave Franklin campus, thousands of jobs to relocate downtown Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Northwestern Mutual will likely be shifting workers out of its Franklin campus and into its downtown Milwaukee facility.

Based on our companions on the Milwaukee Enterprise Journal, round 2,000 workers will likely be relocating.

To accommodate the extra workers, the corporate is asking for town’s help for a $500 million renovation to one of many firm’s downtown buildings.

Northwestern Mutual’s president and chief govt officer John Schlifske informed the BizJournal that the consolidation is an effort to encourage collaboration and in-office attendance.

He stated the proposed challenge “nurtures each the tradition and the attractiveness of return to campus.”

Previous to the pandemic, about 85% of workers labored in particular person. That quantity has since dropped to 70%.

“We need to do every little thing we are able to to get again nearer to that,” Schlifske informed the Milwaukee Enterprise Journal. “We predict that 70 (p.c) goes to proceed to go up, and that’s what we’re making an attempt to perform.”

Below the brand new plan, Northwestern Mutual would go away its Franklin workplace and two workplace buildings in Milwaukee to consolidate its footprint throughout the area. The BizJournal stated the Franklin property would finally be both offered or leased to a brand new firm.

“We’re rising, we’re not shrinking, we have now no layoffs this yr,” Schlifske informed the BizJournal. “Our headcount ought to go up 300 or 400 folks. Most of these will likely be in Milwaukee.”

The challenge would overhaul the present north workplace high-rise, which was accomplished in 1990. The BizJournal stated it could be stripped right down to its construction and re-built with an extra ground.

The corporate additionally desires to shut a piece of Cass Road so it will probably construct a pedestrian plaza.

As soon as accomplished, Northwestern Mutual would be capable to accommodate 9,000 workers. If the proposal is accredited, the renovation may start as quickly as this fall.

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