The Discovery Partners Institute’s next chapter continues to unfold, under the leadership of The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with the purchase of an office building at 250 S. Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago that will serve as DPI’s new permanent headquarters.

This announcement represents a significant milestone in DPI's continued growth and mission to drive economic development and position Chicago and Illinois as a global center for emerging technologies.

The new 244,954 square-foot, West Loop headquarters will serve as a hub where researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs and students collaborate to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence and applications in critical industry domains, quantum technologies, and next-generation computing. DPI will work in tandem with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) to support the state's strategic investment in quantum and computing technologies that are reshaping the global economy.

Photo Credit: Heather Coit/Grainger Engineering

"Having DPI headquartered in the heart of Chicago and focused on AI provides an unparalleled platform for collaboration and innovation," said Rashid Bashir, dean of The Grainger College of Engineering and vice chancellor for Chicago Strategic Partnerships with the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. "This building will allow us to scale programs that bring cutting-edge technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace. Thanks to the support of Governor JB Pritzker, DPI will strengthen ties and build new partnerships between university researchers and the corporate sector within the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, enabling breakthroughs that translate directly into economic development, job creation, and new industry partnerships - thus creating a tech hub devoted to bettering our future."

The state of Illinois' support has been essential to DPI's growth. Under Gov. Pritzker, Illinois has invested $500 million in DPI and the Illinois Innovation Network to accelerate research, develop talent, and build a statewide innovation ecosystem.

"The Discovery Partners Institute’s new headquarters is a clear message to innovators everywhere: Illinois is investing in our students, our workforce and the industries of tomorrow," Gov. Pritzker said. "This announcement is a result of a powerful public and private partnership bringing together academic talent and state investments to create jobs, drive economic growth and cement Illinois’ position as a global hub for the future of cutting-edge technology. This represents more than just a new building — it marks an exciting and transformative new chapter for the Discovery Partners Institute, the students and leaders at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the future of our entire state."

Photo Credit: L. Brian Stauffer/University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The new building location creates further momentum for DPI after Gene E. Robinson was named new executive director and CEO in January.

Under Robinson’s leadership, DPI will engage with disciplines across the Urbana-Champaign campus, shaping how AI, science, and technology come together to accelerate innovation – thus benefitting many economic sectors and society in general.

By joining DPI in this role, Robinson also looks to build off successes like the Pritzker Tech Talent Labs, Grainger Engineering City Scholars and the Master of Computer Science in Chicago through the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science.

Additionally, work at DPI moving forward will focus on research, education and workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, economic development and community engagement.

"Our new headquarters positions DPI at the center of Chicago's rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem," Robinson said. "This building will be a catalytic space where researchers, students, and industry leaders collaborate to solve real-world challenges and accelerate economic growth. By bringing AI, quantum technologies, and advanced computing into a single, accessible hub, we will engage leading faculty from the Urbana campus to help Illinois companies transform their operations and strengthen the state's competitive edge."

The decision to establish a permanent home in a strategically located downtown building underscores DPI's commitment to connecting the academic expertise of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with the industries that anchor Chicago's economy. From finance and healthcare to manufacturing, logistics, and energy, companies across the region will benefit from easier access to world-class research, workforce development programs, and applied innovation initiatives.

"Partnerships were foundational to DPI’s creation and this new downtown home ensures that DPI remains deeply integrated as a partner with Chicago’s business community and the economic engine it provides for all of Illinois," said University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen. "This new space gives us the flexibility to expand high-impact programs, connect companies with the University of Illinois System’s extraordinary talent and research capabilities, and generate new opportunities for workers, startups and established industries. It reinforces our commitment to driving inclusive growth for the entire state."

The University of Illinois System purchased the building from South Wacker Real Estate Holding Inc. for $23.75 million.

The new building will provide more space than the current leased location at 200 S. Wacker and will enable DPI to expand programming that connects students and faculty from across the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign directly with Chicago-based companies and civic partners.

"DPI’s new headquarters creates a gateway for students and faculty to engage directly with Chicago’s vibrant innovation community that brings people together across disciplines to do amazing things," said Charles Isbell, chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "This location will foster the kind of daily interaction that accelerates discovery, supports workforce development, fuels prosperity across the state and ensures that our tech-driven future remains human-centered."