The Post Office

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Careful restoration and adaptive reuse transformed Chicago's Old Post Office into a modern workplace that honors its architectural legacy and enduring civic significance.

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Client

601W Companies

Expertise

Building Transformation & Adaptive Reuse Office Developers Brand Design Strategy Professional Services

Opportunity

Following nearly two decades of vacancy, Chicago’s Old Post Office presented a rare opportunity to revive one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Vacant since 1997 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, the 2.6-million-square-foot building sat empty for nearly two decades as downtown Chicago evolved around it. Its massive floorplates, aging infrastructure, and landmark status made it a daunting prospect for redevelopment. Attracting modern office tenants would require solving practical challenges, from decades of water damage to outdated systems, without compromising the architectural character that made the building significant.

Why This Matters

01
Reuse at Scale
The project offers developers and cities across the country a proven model for reimagining the largest, most complex historic buildings instead of demolishing or abandoning them.
02
Betting on Downtown
Reviving one of the country’s largest vacant buildings signaled confidence in Chicago’s downtown at a moment when many office markets faced growing uncertainty and shrinking demand.
03
Preservation Pays Off
The team treated preservation as a competitive advantage rather than a constraint, giving tenants historic character and craftsmanship that no new construction in the Loop could match.

We fully recognize the historical significance of this building to the Chicago community. We intend to honor the Post Office’s past, bringing to life a progressive vision that preserves the Art Deco design of the building while also making way for sophisticated elements and updates that will resonate with today’s workforce.

Solution

Gensler’s solution paired rigorous historic restoration with a bold infrastructure overhaul, transforming outdated floorplates into flexible, amenity-rich spaces for modern tenants.

Gensler combined careful preservation with significant building transformation. The team restored the façade, windows, main lobby, Postmaster-General’s suite, and historic corridors, while documenting original scales, mail chutes, conveyors, mosaic tile floors, and plaster ceilings. New infrastructure, including upgraded mechanical, electrical, and structural systems, made the massive floorplates suitable for commercial office leasing. Amenities — including a food and beverage hall, conference center, tenant lounge, fitness center, and rooftop garden — give tenants an elevated, amenity-rich environment without sacrificing the building’s historic character.

From brief to build: the Old Post Office took shape over four years of demolition, restoration, and reconstruction, transforming a historic landmark for a new era.

The process began with research into what existed, what could be preserved, and what needed to change. Forensics uncovered original finishes hidden beneath layers of paint, while the team documented historic corridors, mosaic tile floors, plaster ceilings, mail chutes, scales, and conveyors. Gensler led 17 firms through demolition, restoration, and new construction, coordinating with the City of Chicago, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and the National Park Service to secure historic tax credits. The result balances transformation with artifacts, allowing the building’s history to shape its future use.

Restoration Through Discovery

Research and forensic analysis revealed original finishes, guiding restoration decisions that balanced preservation with modern performance.

Impact

The redevelopment proved that historic buildings once considered difficult to adapt can become sought-after workplaces that attract new energy and activity to downtown Chicago.

Within 18 months, the Old Post Office leased 80% of its space and earned LEED Gold, turning a vacant landmark into a thriving workplace.

What Changed Because of This

01
Environmental Performance
Upgraded mechanical, electrical, and structural systems helped the Old Post Office achieve LEED Gold Core and Shell certification, dramatically improving efficiency inside a century-old building.
02
Past Meets Present
New amenities, flexible floorplates, and upgraded infrastructure support a 21st-century workplace within a historic landmark.
03
City Gateway
The revived building strengthens a major downtown threshold, returning a once-vacant icon to active civic and commercial use.

Our work honors the Post Office’s history while creating a modern workplace shaped by flexibility, connection, and a distinctive sense of place.

Recognition

01

Interior Design

Interior Design highlights Gensler’s transformation of the historic Old Chicago Post Office into a modern workplace hub and landmark adaptive reuse project.

02

The New York Times

THE NEW YORK TIMES EXPLORES THE RISE OF “GROUNDSCRAPERS,” HIGHLIGHTING HOW LARGE, HORIZONTAL OFFICE BUILDINGS LIKE CHICAGO’S OLD POST OFFICE ARE REDEFINING WORKPLACE DESIGN.

03

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune named Gensler’s team Chicagoans of the Year in Architecture for reviving the long-vacant Old Post Office and reconnecting it to the city.

Team

Project Leadership

Sheryl Schulze

Sheryl is a Principal and Managing Director of Gensler’s Columbus office, where she brings people together around the possibilities of design. A recognized adaptive reuse expert, she helps clients see new potential in existing buildings and turn complex challenges into lasting value.

Grant Uhlir

As Gensler’s Global Director of Large Projects, Grant combines strategic design leadership, client relationship expertise, and proven project management experience to guide large, complex projects worldwide.

[FPO] Angela Harper

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[FPO] Jeffrey Lawrence

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FAQ

01

Where is The Post Office located?

The Old Post Office is located in downtown Chicago, spanning the Eisenhower Expressway at the edge of the Loop.

02

Who designed the original Old Post Office building?

The original building, designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, was completed in 1921 and expanded in 1932.

03

Who are the tenants in The Post Office?

Today, the Old Post Office is home to a diverse mix of global companies, including Uber, Walgreens Boots Alliance, KPMG, Cboe Global Markets, PepsiCo, Cisco, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

04

What historic elements were preserved?

Gensler documented and preserved elements including scales, mail chutes, conveyors, historic corridors, mosaic tile floors, and plaster ceilings.

05

Is the Old Post Office open to the public?

The building’s restored 350-foot-long lobby is open to the public and hosts community events.

06

Did The Post Office achieve sustainability certification?

The project earned LEED Gold Core and Shell certification.

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Related Expertise

Building Transformation & Adaptive Reuse Office Developers Brand Design Strategy Professional Services

Careful restoration and adaptive reuse transformed Chicago's Old Post Office into a modern workplace that honors its architectural legacy and enduring civic significance.

Following nearly two decades of vacancy, Chicago’s Old Post Office presented a rare opportunity to revive one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Why This Matters

Gensler’s solution paired rigorous historic restoration with a bold infrastructure overhaul, transforming outdated floorplates into flexible, amenity-rich spaces for modern tenants.

From brief to build: the Old Post Office took shape over four years of demolition, restoration, and reconstruction, transforming a historic landmark for a new era.

The redevelopment proved that historic buildings once considered difficult to adapt can become sought-after workplaces that attract new energy and activity to downtown Chicago.

What Changed Because of This