The Old Post Office

Designed by the famed Chicago architecture firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, this Art Deco post office with classical accents was originally completed in 1921. The property was expanded in 1932 because of increasing postal demands and the rising popularity of the mail-order industry. The Chicago Main Post Office acted as the nation’s critical distribution center for many mail-order catalogs, including those of Chicago-based Montgomery Ward and Sears. The rehabilitated property now operates as offices, retail, and event spaces. Ryan’s Historic Tax Credits team consulted on federal historic tax credits for the $800 million project.

Nine stories tall, three city blocks long, and one block wide, the “groundscraper” is the largest adaptive reuse project in the nation. If stood on its end, the building would be 64 stories tall. The rehabilitation effort tasked project partners with redevelopment of 2.8 million square feet. With 19-foot ceilings, 14-foot windows, 80,000 square feet of amenities, and a capacity for 12,000 to 14,000 workers. The Old Post Office’s amenities include a conference center, an 18,000 square foot fitness center named “Boxcar,” a multifunction work and event space named “The Library,” and multiple bars (The Telegram Lounge is equipped with a bocce ball land and billiards). Best of all, however, may be the widely celebrated “Meadow,” or the landscaped rooftop with a bistro and bar area, basketball court, paddle ball courts, and running track.