Synovate (formerly Market Facts Inc.) is a global market research firm with 77 offices in 46 countries. Synovate has 27 full service offices and over 1,000 employees in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. The company conducts research for clients in virtually every nation on the North and South American continents.

Synovate recently moved its headquarters for the Americas from Arlington Heights to 222 South Riverside in Chicago's central business district. The company leased 85,000 square feet at this location.

Initiated to reinvigorate the company's corporate culture, the move was completed in 2004. In Arlington Heights, "we had a great view of the race course but it didn't give us the drive and energy you get in a big city," said Robert Philpott, CEO for Synovate in the Americas. The company is going through a "cultural change from quite a local company to a global operation," he said. "We wanted the pace and drive of a city center."

"We were finding it more difficult to get young people to come out to the suburbs," said Philpott. "We wanted to create an employment location that is dynamic and forward thinking."

Over 299,900 people live in the neighborhoods in and around the central business district of downtown Chicago and the population of the central business district is projected to grow by 50% this decade. Of those, 39% have a bachelors degree - 2.5 times the national average, 29% have graduate degrees - 3.3 times the national average. In addition, 52,000 students attend college downtown. The city has all the qualities of a cosmopolitan metropolis, yet remains affordable to companies, individuals and families in a way that other global cities are not.

World Business Chicago worked with the company on its move for more than two years. Synovate's relocation to downtown is the largest since Boeing World Headquarters arrived in September 2001. Some 525 employees made the move and an additional 150-200 employees are expected to be hired.