Kim et al. investigated the function of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) complex condensin in the organization of the fission yeast genome. The yeast condensin protein Cut14 localized to both centromeres and target genes of the transcription factors Ams2 and Ace2. Condensin formed long-range chromatin interactions (condensin domains) between loci that are separated by >100 kb to >1 Mb, notably between the Ams2 and Ace2 target loci and centromeres. Condensin domain formation was most prominent during mitosis, when Ams2 and Ace2 are highly expressed; indeed, condensin was recruited to the Ams2 and Ace2 target genes by the respective transcription factor. During mitosis, condensin was necessary for correct chromatin condensation at Ace2 target loci, and disruption of target loci binding to centromeres resulted in chromosome segregation defects. Thus, mitotic transcription factors recruit condensin to shape mitotic chromosome organization and segregation.