When The Mill makes its unprecedented move into its four-story, 22,000-sq. ft. building sometime in late summer, it will be the largest visual media company located in the burgeoning West Loop.
The London-headquartered visual effects and design firm will occupy the vacant former apartment building at 310 N. Peoria. It will move from the space it has shared with The Whitehouse at 54 W. Hubbard St. since opening here in March, 2013.
Starting its Chicago office with 12 employees, the current staff numbers more than 45. “Our studio’s been really well received. Effectively, we’ve just outgrown it,” a spokesman said.
The Mill is going all-out on its top-to-bottom interior renovation that’s being designed by a pair of pair of award-winning companies: Chicago’s Vinci Hamp Architects, restorers of the Illinois Capitol’s West Wing and London’s HMKM construction by Chicago’s Centaur Construction.
The Mill, however, won’t be occupying the entire space when it moves in later this year, notes managing director Jared Yeater. “So it will afford us the flexibility to keep investing in this community and adapting to our clients’ needs.”
Included in the expansion is a second color suite and the hiring of additional computer graphics and design teams. The relocation also will boost the Mill+design and animation direction offering.
The building is owned by Chicago’s D2 Realty Services. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.
