Deloitte L.L.P. plans to build a $300 million learning and leadership development center at Hillwood Development’s Circle T Ranch in the Dallas suburb of Westlake. Construction on the new facility will begin in 2009 and the center is expected to open in 2011. The facility will serve as a central destination for everyone from new hires to Deloitte senior leadership, to convene for learning and leadership development. The 750,000-square-foot campus will have 800 guest rooms. The facility is expected to result in Deloitte adding an estimated 100 new full-time jobs, with 300 to 400 new non-Deloitte jobs also being added. The facility will feature multiple conference spaces and classrooms that will host thought leadership events by Deloitte Research and Deloitte Industry Centers; events with professors from nationally accredited universities and colleges; and networking events. They will also serve as places where Deloitte personnel can connect with mentors and colleagues. “Deloitte had seven or eight key criteria in selecting a site,” Deloitte partner Jon Eisele (pictured) told CPN. “The site had to be very easily accessible to a major airport that handles many direct airports both domestically and internationally. DFW International Airport is about 15 minutes from Circle T, so it is very accessible.” Eisele also said the site itself was very appealing. “[T]he attractiveness of the site is very important to us. We looked at many sites that were attractive, but Circle T fits that mold very well. It is a beautiful piece of property, he said, adding that it’s location in the central part of the country was also a plus. Deloitte has four offices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but none of those will be relocated, Eisele said. “Our business is one that is entirely dependent upon our people and having the right people and enough of the right people has driven us to invest in learning and leadership as a very long term strategic issue for us,” Eisele said. The campus will be constructed according to LEED standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project will be located in Hillwood Development’s Circle T Ranch in Westlake, a 2,500-acre mixed-use, master planned community located 10 minutes from DFW International Airport. Deloitte is the brand under which tens of thousands of independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax services to clients.
News Article | 6/30/2008