Located just ten minutes from Orlando International Airport sits Lake Nona, one of the nation’s fastest growing communities on a mission to support holistically healthy living. Lake Nona encompasses over 13,000 residents and more than 10 million square feet of residential and commercial facilities, including the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine and Nemour’s Childrens Hospital.
Companies have been attracted to Lake Nona for its extensive land options, proximity to Orlando International Airport, groundbreaking gigabit fiber optic technology (named one of only nine Iconic Smart + Connected communities in the world) and all-inclusive community amenities.
In 2018, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrated a one-year anniversary for its new “Home for American Tennis” at Lake Nona. USTA’s new Home for American Tennis is the biggest and most innovative facility of its kind in the world, with revolutionary technology built in to its 100 outdoor tennis courts – recording training data that coaches and professionals from around the country can take back to their communities.
USTA needed a location that would supply enough space for its 63-acre facility and embody the principles of the association. USTA not only found the land it needed to build its new Home in Lake Nona; it found a collaborative community that embraces its mission of inspiring human performance. And by partnering with UCF, Visit Orlando and Visit Florida, USTA felt confident that it could fill its stands at its national and international tournaments.
“It became clear early on that Orlando was our new home because this is an exciting, energetic place to be,” Gordon Smith, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of USTA.
In 2017, KPMG began construction on its new global learning, development and innovation facility. As KPMG’s largest capital investment ever, it was imperative for KPMG to find a location that fit a long list of important criteria: the right culture, business climate, community partnerships, incentives, transportation and more. KPMG needed a place that would foster an innovative and collaborative environment for employee training. KPMG considered 49 potential cities including Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas before choosing Orlando.
Orlando’s Lake Nona met and exceeded KPMG’s criteria for their largest capital investment project ever. Not only did the city’s future-forward vision resonate with KPMG, but the company was able to fly directly to 90 percent of its other office locations from Orlando International Airport.
One of the key factors in choosing Orlando was the innovation we see here. The Lake Nona area is known for innovation, and that factor was lacking in many other cities we considered. Of course, all the recreational opportunities in the area are also a big draw.
Lynne Doughtie, KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO
KPMG’s $400 million learning, development, and innovation facility in Orlando is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2019.