Along with the Lego Education office, which moved from Kansas in 2016, the company has its Legoland Discovery Center in Somerville’s Assembly Row, which will reopen this spring following $12 million in renovations. Lego already has several footholds in Boston. The state will assist in recruiting workers through MassHire, the governor’s office said, while Idowu added that the phased-in move gives plenty of time to ”create pipelines for Boston residents to careers within the company.” “Based on my conversations this morning with LEGO’s leadership, their move is motivated not by any Connecticut policy but rather LEGO’s desire to consolidate their business operations near the company’s Education Office and to enhance their partnership with MIT,” Lamont wrote, adding that the state would assist any workers who choose not to follow the company to Massachusetts.

The company currently employs a hybrid work model that may reduce its space needs, said Alia Hamada Forrest, director of business strategy in Idowu’s office.Ĭonnecticut Governor Ned Lamont also weighed in on the decision, releasing a statement expressing his disappointment over the move. Idowu said the city would help Lego find a good location “downtown.” The site itself will depend on how much square footage Lego needs. “Companies are making difficult decisions about how much space they’re securing and what future leases look like,” said Idowu, “For a company to say, ‘Because of the talent, because of the transportation, because of the housing, because of the priorities of the administration, this is ideal for us and we’re going to take up a lot of space,’ I think it’s encouraging.” Idowu said Lego’s decision will “really show people that Boston is open for business,” even as the office market remains wobbly following the pandemic. The city offered Lego no financial incentives for the move. Segun Idowu, Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, said that by the time the company spoke with them, the deal was all but sealed.

“This news finally has my kids impressed.”Ĭompared with some longer, higher-profile corporate relocations, Lego’s move happened relatively swiftly.Ĭonversations between the company and state officials began in early December, the governor’s office confirmed, with City Hall looped in around Christmastime. “I look forward to supporting LEGO Group as they transition their headquarters to Boston and join our mission to become the most family-friendly city in the country,” she said. The interior of the LEGO Education office in Boston's Back Bay.

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