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The City of Chicago's newly released The newly released Energy Benchmarking Report revealed a 25% reduction in carbon emissions by properties greater than 50,000 square feet

Morgan Stanley to Blackstone’s Willis Tower in Chicago

Morgan Stanley is set to take 125,000 square feet at Blackstone Group’s 110-story Willis Tower in Chicago. The New York-based financial giant is reportedly relocating from 70 W. Madison St. beginning in mid-2019.

The deal would rank as the largest new tenant lease signing at the property since Blackstone acquired it in 2015 for $1.3 billion, and subsequently initiated a nearly $550 million redevelopment effort. It would also bring the 3.8-million-square-foot tower closer to lease-up, as Equity Office said the building was 90% leased before the Morgan Stanley deal. Other notable tenants at the tower include the parent of United Airlines, which has 855,655 square feet, and law firms Schiff Hardin (181,000 square feet) and Seyfarth Shaw.

The renovation includes a major expansion of retail space, a new fitness center, rooftop deck, tenant lounges and remodeled elevators.

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for Connect Creative. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 40 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect Creative’s agency client services and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from public relations and content strategy, communications and message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. Prior to joining Connect Media in 2015, his most recent corporate communications roles involved leading a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, playing a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest (BrightView), the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. He has worked on marketing communications assignments for such CRE companies as Blackstone/Equity Office, Carlyle, Caruso, Disney Resorts, GE Capital, Irvine Company, Hines, Howard Hughes Corp., Jeffries, Lennar, MGM, Marcus & Millichap, Prologis, Raleigh Studios, Simon, Starwood, Trammell Crow Company, Transamerica, UBS and Wynn Resorts. Dennis has also worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of consumer electronic, media and tech brands including SlingMedia, Channel Master, Deluxe Media Entertainment, BeIn Sports, EchoStar and Sprint. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Off Madison Ave., Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, Boy Scouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and the Thunderbirds Charities.

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