Deloitte expanding, opening new office in downtown Kitchener

Deloitte is expanding its business in Waterloo Region, with plans to open a new office at 195 Joseph St.in Kitchener by 2017.

The companywhichprovides audit, tax, consulting, as well asfinancial and enterprise risk advisory services around the worldsaid itwill be moving its current office on King Street Eastand hiring more staff in the process.

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Rightnow the company employs about 170peoplein Waterloo Regionbutinthenewspace Deloitteplans to grow to a 200-personteamand mayexpandfurther, regional managing partner PeterBarrtold CBC News.

This is the innovation engine of the country.- PeterBarr, managingpartner forDeloitte'sWaterloo Region office

"We areusing the space to leverage some new service opportunities to offer our clients in the local market so we expect that number to continue to grow," Barr said.

The new office is located ona property known for its historic smokestackemerging from the middle of a parking lot in downtown Kitchener,directly behind The Tannery.

Heritage meets high-tech

Toronto-based real estate development firmAllied PropertiesREIThas been contracted to do the work,with plans to restore the old warehouseand develop the surrounding parking lotin thehigh-tech-meets-heritage style characteristic of nearby buildings at The Tannery and BreithauptBlock.

"This is the innovation engine of the country," said Barr.

"We believe in that and think it's very synonymous with our own brand so we're very happy to be a part of that and help part of the restoration of downtown Kitchener."

The new space will feature sunken outdoor gardens,a glass atriumas well as largely open-concept office space.

"It is definitely going to be a very modern workspace," Barr said.

Barr said the company plans to be working out of its newspace by fall2017.