Wolverine World Wide, Inc. announced the grand opening of its 245,000-square-foot-regional headquarters at 500 Totten Pond Road in Waltham, MA. The new Wolverine campus is home to the Sperry, Saucony, Keds and Stride Rite brands, all acquired by Michigan-based Wolverine Worldwide in 2012.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and First Lady Lauren Baker joined Wolverine to celebrate its local grand opening with a private combined ribbon-cutting ceremony and Olympic send-off reception for local 2016 Olympian and Team Saucony member Molly Huddle. Huddle, America’s premier female distance runner, made history at the recent U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials by winning both the 10,000 and 5,000 meter races. She will be heading to the Rio Olympic Games next month.
“The Commonwealth is pleased Wolverine Worldwide chose to continue operating a portion of their business here in Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Wolverine Boston’s ability to operate an outstanding business and attract top talent will continue to play an important role in our thriving innovation economy and we look forward to what their future success will bring to the Commonwealth.”
“It was no surprise to us that Massachusetts took the top spot in Bloomberg’s recent ranking of the most innovative states in the U.S.,” said Blake Krueger, Wolverine Worldwide’s chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The opening of the new Wolverine Boston campus represents our ongoing commitment and long-standing support of the Commonwealth and its flourishing innovation economy. Our new regional headquarters is designed as an innovation center, purpose-built to not only accelerate the speed of innovation, but showcase our brand strength, attract top talent from the surrounding universities and encourage collaboration among our associates and the local community. We view this commitment as a win-win-win, good for Massachusetts, the community and Wolverine Worldwide.”
“One of America’s original colonies, Massachusetts has been at the heart of the nation’s shoemaking industry by attracting skilled shoemakers and later creating the technology to revolutionize the shoemaking industry,” said Richie Woodworth, president of the Wolverine Boston Group. “The roots of our Boston-based portfolio of authentic brands’ have always been firmly planted in Massachusetts and all of us at Wolverine Boston are proud to continue this great tradition, empowering, engaging and inspiring our consumers globally−all right here from our brand new campus in Waltham, a city built on innovation.”
At the Wolverine grand opening celebration, Huddle presented a Wolverine Worldwide Foundation grant of $10,000 to the Honorable Jeanette McCarthy, Mayor of the City of Waltham for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The grant is an effort to help inspire local future Olympians by increasing youth participation in Waltham’s fitness, sports and summer camps.
The new Wolverine Worldwide regional headquarters is located at the northern entrance to the CityPoint district in Waltham and adjacent to the Winter Street/Totten Pond Road interchange of Route 128. CityPoint’s new 500 Totten Pond Road building combines the best in urban high performance design in a dynamic Waltham location. Targeting LEED Platinum certification, the 245,000 square foot building features collaborative common spaces including a fitness center, boutique café, conferencing facilities and a sixth floor roof deck, providing an ideal gathering space with views overlooking the Cambridge Reservoir.
