Downtown Chalks Up Another Win

DETROIT, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the lead of clients, the inspiration of community leaders and the firm's commitment to Michigan's urban centers, Lambert, Edwards & Associates (LE&A) today announced the company is moving its eastside Michigan office from the suburbs in Troy to downtown Detroit.  The move further cements LE&A's position as Michigan's only statewide PR firm, now with downtown locations in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

After 14 years in Troy, LE&A is moving from the PNC Center to the Detroit Opera House Parking Center retail space at the corner of Broadway and Grand River downtown.  LE&A's agreement with the Detroit Opera House, with assistance from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the City of Detroit and Bedrock Management, includes financing the build-out of 8,700 square feet of class A office space and a long-term lease.

"We researched the entire Metro Detroit area and weighed the business, culture and community benefits of each location, and it became clear that the heartbeat of Detroit – of Michigan itself – was in downtown," said Jeff Lambert, president and managing partner of Lambert, Edwards & Associates.  "Our challenge then became finding a location that fit our vision of 'professional cool' – a space that balances our creative culture and work product with our serious business side and corporate clientele.  Our new home is a great space, in a great spot, in a great city."

LE&A's new home at 1429 Broadway was a new build several years ago and LE&A will be its first tenant. The pre-development space features 18-foot ceilings, an outside terrace, floor-to-ceiling windows and on-site parking.  The location is ideally situated two blocks from Campus Martius, three blocks from Comerica Park and Ford Field, and a block down the street from the M@dison Building and a bevy of creative, tech and emerging growth companies.  It's also across the street from the Boll Family YMCA, where LE&A was first introduced to the block last year when the company committed $10,000 to the Y's Urban Swim Initiative, focused on teaching inner city children to swim.

"Our move is small-ball for downtown Detroit, but it all counts toward the win, and we invite other service providers like us to join the big boys like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and DTE Energy and Quicken Loans to continue to bring people downtown and re-invigorate Detroit," Lambert added.  "We believe this move downtown is good for the City, a positive for our people, and fundamentally, a smart business decision."

LE&A intends to hire a Detroit-based contractor to lead the build-out of its new office space and has slated a move-in date before the Tigers' first game of the playoffs in early fall 2012.  LE&A's 15-person Detroit team is led by Gayle Joseph, a 25-year veteran of global automotive, healthcare and tech PR and part of the founding staff of Detroit PR firm John Bailey & Associates, which LE&A acquired in 2009.   

About Lambert, Edwards & Associates
Named the 2010 PRWeek Small Agency of the Year, LE&A (www.lambert-edwards.com) is a top-10 Midwest-based PR firm and a top-20 investor relations firm nationally with clients based in 20 states and five countries.  As Michigan's only statewide firm – with offices in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit – LE&A serves middle-market companies and national brands in five practice areas: Automotive, Consumer, Financial Communications, Health Care and Public Affairs.  LE&A has posted 12 consecutive years of growth, been named an Edward Lowe "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" and earned four Silver Anvil awards – the PR profession's highest honor.  Follow us on Twitter: @LambertEdwards. 

SOURCE Lambert, Edwards & Associates