BOSTON — Procter & Gamble’s Gillette division announced Tuesday that it plans to purchase the 232 A Street site in South Boston to build a new global headquarters and Technical Innovation Center, a nearly $1 billion investment that will anchor the company’s long-term presence in the city where it was founded more than 125 years ago.
The planned facility will consolidate Gillette’s global grooming leadership and research operations in a purpose-built campus designed to support advanced product development, collaboration and commercial operations. The 232 A Street parcel — currently owned by Breakthrough Properties, a joint venture between Tishman Speyer and Bellco Capital — is already permitted for a 324,315-square-foot research and development building that will include ground-floor retail space and public amenities.
Company leaders said the purchase is part of a broader strategy to position Gillette for long-term growth while maintaining Boston as its global headquarters.
“Transforming our grooming business for the future required that we think creatively about every aspect of our operations,” said Gary Coombe, CEO of P&G Gillette. “After a comprehensive search, we are pleased to have found a location that continues our longstanding history in this community, provides the right structure for our Technical Innovation Center, and supports neighborhood development.”
The South Boston project represents the single largest investment Gillette has made in the City of Boston. Alongside the headquarters project, the company is also expanding manufacturing operations in Andover and preparing a master redevelopment plan for its existing 31-acre South Boston campus.
Gillette broke ground in April 2025 on a new 200,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Andover. Beginning in 2026, blade and razor production will shift from South Boston to the new site, where employees will operate next-generation manufacturing systems designed to support production, packaging, shave-prep manufacturing and direct-to-consumer fulfillment.
Together, the headquarters project, the Andover expansion and related redevelopment efforts will represent roughly $1.5 billion in investment across Massachusetts.
The new South Boston facility will also bring several community benefits tied to the site’s original permitting. Plans include 1.5 acres of publicly accessible open space along the Fort Point Channel, new sidewalks and bike lanes, Harborwalk improvements, and a waterfront park. Funding is also earmarked for public art and shuttle services intended to improve connectivity and waterfront access.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the project reinforces the city’s role as a global center for innovation.
“Gillette’s long history of innovation is intertwined with the City of Boston, and I’m thrilled that their new corporate headquarters will reinvest in their revolutionary roots along Fort Point Channel,” Wu said. “This new development will keep hundreds of high-tech research and development jobs in the city.”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also praised the decision, calling it a major vote of confidence in the state’s innovation economy.
“Massachusetts offers the talent, research ecosystem and innovation environment that global companies need to grow and compete,” Healey said. “We are proud that Gillette is choosing to build its next chapter here.”
Gillette first announced plans in 2023 to transition to a new headquarters and innovation center following a statewide review of potential sites. The move is intended to modernize the company’s operations while maintaining a strong presence in the region where its workforce and research partnerships are deeply rooted.
Meanwhile, the company is developing a long-term master plan to reimagine its existing South Boston campus. Early concepts include housing, new open space, enhanced waterfront access and additional economic development opportunities.
“At its core, this decision is about people — our employees, families and neighbors who have been part of the Gillette story for generations,” Coombe said. “The investments we make here will create jobs, drive economic growth and help ensure Massachusetts remains a place where world-class companies and working families can thrive.”
The transaction was brokered by CBRE, led by Vice Chairman Jonathan Varholak.
