DETROIT — Little Caesars and Olympia Development of Michigan have reached several major milestones as part of the development of the new and expanded Little Caesars world headquarters campus. The iconic Detroit-born business has updated the design of the new building after extensive collaboration with its colleagues and franchisees. The nine-story, 234,000 square foot, Little Caesars Global Resource Center at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Columbia Street in The District Detroit will feature a first-of-its-kind façade and more than double the size of the current Little Caesars campus in Detroit to accommodate the company’s rapid global growth and hiring.
The Little Caesars Global Resource Center, the cornerstone of The District Detroit’s Columbia Street neighborhood, is Detroit’s first newly constructed corporate headquarters building in more than a decade and only the seventh since 1950. Construction of the new Little Caesars Global Resource Center will be another boost to Detroit’s impressive comeback story when construction begins this summer upon the approval of permits currently being reviewed by the city of Detroit.
“We’re thrilled to reach the next step in the development of a building that will be an integral part of The District Detroit and the city’s revitalization,” said David Scrivano, President and CEO of Little Caesars. “As we continue our explosive global expansion, we’re proud to build an exceptional workplace right in the heart of the city that helped make Little Caesars one of the world’s largest pizza chains.”
The Little Caesars Global Resource Center will have an impressive formed-glass exterior. Each 14-foot tall, pizza slice shape of formed-glass pays homage to the company’s signature product. The distinct shape of glass, in combination with the height of each formed-glass unit, makes the building façade the first of its kind in the world. The innovative building design matches the company’s personality, which has long been regarded as an industry innovator.
Updated renderings show how the building’s unique design provides more natural light, more collaboration spaces and great views of the city. Research and development space will triple current facilities and include a state-of-the-art test kitchen and space for sensory panels and quality assurance operations.
Olympia Development of Michigan has selected Detroit-based Brinker-Christman as Construction Manager. Detroit-based SmithGroupJJR is the Architect of Record. Together, they will bring to life a Michigan Made, Detroit Built headquarters that perfectly reflects the company’s innovative spirit and complements the iconic architecture found up and down Woodward Avenue, Detroit’s symbolic main street.
“The Little Caesars Global Resource Center is an important anchor for The District Detroit and will appeal to national and local retailers who want proximity to a global brand with Detroit roots,” said Steve Marquardt, Vice President of Olympia Development of Michigan, developer for the Little Caesars Global Resource Center and The District Detroit. “The selection of a Detroit-based construction manager, as well as a Detroit-based architect, further demonstrates our commitment to a Michigan Made, Detroit Built development and reflects the opportunities we continue to create for local and regional contractors and companies.”
The design and workplace amenities were determined with the input of employee work groups and will provide a flexible work environment that fosters employee engagement. The result is a workplace that is unique and comfortable, providing modern features with open architecture.
Additional innovative features of the Little Caesars Global Resource Center will include:
- Work café, pantries, collaborative workspaces and informal meeting rooms
- Two-story lobby connected to a new Welcome Center
- Glass-covered, open air terrace
- Screening room and 425-seat training room
- Fitness center
- Retail and dining
Boosting The District Detroit and the City’s Economy
The Little Caesars Global Resource Center will be The District Detroit’s largest new construction to date in the Columbia Street neighborhood, which is also home to the spectacular Fox Theatre, a National Historic Landmark. Olympia Development of Michigan has organized a comprehensive effort to ensure the participation of Detroit-based and -headquartered businesses in construction of the new Little Caesars Global Resource Center.
In its ongoing work on the new Little Caesars Arena and its surrounding retail and office space, Olympia Development of Michigan has awarded more than $300 million, nearly 60 percent of total contracts awarded so far, to Detroit-based businesses. Detroit residents have logged more than 140,000 work hours on site, and there are more than 40 Detroit resident apprentices working currently. Nearly $500 million, or more than 90 percent, of contracts have been awarded to Michigan-based companies.
The expanded Little Caesars world headquarters campus will have workspace to allow for up to 700 high-skilled jobs to be brought to the city. The Little Caesars Global Resource Center will provide world-class training, innovation and workspace to accommodate thousands of employees, franchisees, and suppliers that visit the Detroit headquarters campus from around the globe each year. The Little Caesars Global Resource Center will support employees and franchisees with a combination of state-of-the-art, employee-focused design and the latest technology.
Little Caesars Global Growth
Founded 57-years-ago with a single pizza shop, Little Caesars now has thousands of locations owned and operated by franchisees around the world. Since moving to the Fox Office Centre in 1989, Little Caesars has experienced incredible growth and now needs expanded, modern workspace that meets the evolving needs of employees and the business. Little Caesars is the largest carryout-only pizza chain in the world with locations in all 50 states and 18 international markets and recently opened franchises in Panama, Australia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic with additional expansion taking place worldwide. Little Caesars is proud to call Detroit home while continuing its extraordinary growth throughout the world.
Ilitch Companies and Detroit
Owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, who founded Little Caesars Pizza in the Detroit area nearly 60 years ago, made a bold move by relocating Little Caesars to Detroit in 1989. At the time, companies were moving out of Detroit, not moving in. The Ilitches restored the Fox Theatre as one of the most majestic theaters in the world and refurbished the Fox Office Centre for their companies. This adjacent building continues that legacy.
Ilitch companies currently employ nearly 7,400 people in the city of Detroit.
About Little Caesars Pizza
Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars® is the largest carryout-only pizza chain and fastest growing pizza chain in America*. Founded in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant, Little Caesars has become third largest pizza chain in the world and today operates in all 50 U.S. states, as well as 18 countries and territories worldwide.
Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars has been named “Best Value in America”** for nine years in a row. Little Caesars products are made with quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen, mozzarella and Muenster cheese, dough made fresh daily in the stores and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes.
An exceptionally high growth company with more than 57 years of experience in the nearly $135 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars is continually looking for franchisee candidates to join our team in markets around the world. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized and appealing characters in the country, Little Caesar.
About The District Detroit
The District Detroit will be made up of a dynamic mix of sports and entertainment venues, including six world-class theatres and three multi-use sports venues including the new Little Caesars Arena – home to the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions. The District Detroit will also feature residential, office and retail developments that connect these venues into one contiguous, walkable area, where families, sports fans, entrepreneurs, job seekers, entertainment lovers and others who crave a vibrant urban setting can connect with each other and the city they love.
Data from the University of Michigan demonstrates that The District Detroit will ultimately account for an impact of more than $2 billion by 2020 and create 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs. More than $100 million in income from the Little Caesars Arena alone is expected for Detroit residents, with significant additional income to be created through future private development. Visit www.DistrictDetroit.com to learn more.
About The Ilitch Companies
The Ilitch companies represent leading brands in the food, sports and entertainment industries and include Ilitch Holdings, Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program and Olympia Development of Michigan. Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers. Marian Ilitch owns MotorCity Casino Hotel.
Source: Little Caesars