CHICAGO—601W. Cos. revealed its plans for Chicago's historic Main Post Office yesterday, one of the city's most anticipated projects and at more than 2.8 million square feet currently the largest redevelopment in the nation. Spanning three city blocks and five acres, the building sits just over the Eisenhower Expressway at 433 W. Van Buren St. Generations of Chicago-area residents have driven under the landmark property, which will soon open as a new business and retail hub.
The design, led by Gensler Chicago, will preserve the building's historical character. And at a cost of more than $600 million, the developer will transform its 250,000 square-foot floorplates into office space, enough for an estimated 15,000 workers. They will enjoy ceiling heights of up to 19 feet, an important consideration for companies that want to provide employees with sweeping views and natural light.
“We fully recognize the historical significance of this building,” says Brian Whiting, president of The Telos Group, which oversees strategic positioning and leasing of the office space. “When the Post Office was built, Chicago was the center of catalog retail sales and the building was designed to handle fulfillment for the largest operators, including Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward. Fittingly, the Post Office will once again serve to promote the commerce industry, including the e-commerce companies that have replaced catalog houses, but this time with cutting-edge office space.”
“This project is as much about transformation as it is about the research of what once was. The rich history of The Post Office will resonate with modern day desires being captured in new construction,” says Sheryl Schulze, senior project director at Gensler Chicago. “Most Chicagoans have history in this iconic building. Whatever that memory is, the collaborative team in place is honored to bring this Grande Dame of Chicago architecture and gateway to the city back to life for generations to come.”
In addition, 601W Cos. plans to add a host of amenities, including a large-scale festival food market, open to the public and spilling outside to a riverfront plaza. The building's immense roof will boast over three acres of park including cafés, sports courts and a quarter-mile running trail through landscaped meadows. Furthermore, tenants and guests will have more than 80,000 square feet of amenity space, including an extensive fitness center, conferencing space and a lounge.
Currently, more than 200 construction workers from 27 construction-related firms, led by the project's general contractor Bear Construction, are on site. Since 2016, nearly 100,000 man hours have been invested, with an estimated 20 million pounds of debris removed, 90% of which is being recycled. Telos has already begun leasing the property. The developer anticipates completing the redevelopment by early 2019 and says future tenants can begin building out space in 2018.
“We intend to honor the Post Office's past, bringing to life a vision that preserves the art deco design and history of the building while making way for progressive elements and updates that will resonate with the workforce of today and tomorrow,” says Whiting.
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Brian J. Rogal
Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.
