CHICAGO (January 24, 2020) – Savills announced today that Big 10 Network (BTN), the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country, has signed a newly restructured, long-term lease to expand its space at 600 West Chicago in the city’s River North submarket. 

BTN’s presence at the 1.62 million square-foot Class A office complex will grow to 58,185 square feet as a result of the new lease. In addition to the 46,329 square feet it currently occupies on the 8th floor, the company will grow by an additional 11,856 square feet to further accommodate its growth. 

Founded in Chicago in 2007, BTN is a joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks. The network features events including football, men’s and women’s basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events, studio shows and classic games, as well as original programming such as the Emmy-nominated “The Journey.” BTN is in more than 60 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors.

Savills Vice Chairmen Robert Sevim and Kelly Givens represented BTN in negotiations. 

“BTN is well known across the country for its live coverage of collegiate sports, so it was our top priority to find a solution that would not only meet their expansion needs but cause the least amount of disruption to their daily production schedule,” Sevim said. “With the building’s ongoing renovation and new amenities, BTN determined that staying in place and adding more space was the best possible option.” 

Built in 1908 and originally designed by Schmidt, Garden & Martin, 600 West Chicago (formerly the Montgomery Ward Catalog Building) is one of River North’s most prominent addresses. The property is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar reinvigoration plan that commenced in 2018. Existing and future amenities include redesigned lobbies, updated common areas, an activated Riverwalk area, a reconfigured outdoor plaza level, new retail spaces, a tenant lounge and meeting rooms, a rooftop deck with city and river views, on-site parking, an on-site full-service gym, and a bike room. 

The building is in close proximity to multiple modes of transportation, including shuttle services to Ogilvie and Union stations, the CTA Brown and Purple “L” Station at Chicago and Franklin, and on-site Divvy bike station, as well as the future Chicago Water Taxi stops for north and south bound boats.