Designs Show How The Old Main Post Office Could Look Once It Is Transformed

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 18, 2017 9:23PM

We still don't know exactly how designs will take shape at the Old Main Post Office, the monumental redevelopment project that will see the long-vacant, erstwhile fire magnet transformed into a huge office-space complex. But thanks to some new, leaked renderings, we have a hint.

The collection of renderings made their way to the Skyscraper Page architecture forum, apparently from a presentation that was put together by real estate brokers Cushman and Wakefield. A link to the presentation, pointed out by Curbed Chicago, who first reported the story, has since been removed. (A representative with Cushman and Wakefield told Chicagoist on Tuesday that renderings were not included in the linked presentation.)

A spokesperson for Gensler, the architecture firm working on the redevelopment, confirmed that the renderings are indeed the firm's images, though she added that the new owner of the hulking Art Deco property, 601W Companies, has not approved all the renderings. So don't assume anything is finalized.

The natural follow-up of course is, "What does Jeff Bezos think of them?" As Curbed notes, the Old Main Post Office—which was sold in May of 2016—tends to take the poll position in any roundup of potential Amazon HQ2 sites. It's size, downtown location and potentially transformative makeover would certainly seem to place it ahead of other usual-suspect candidates like the Michael Reese Hospital site, the old Steel Works site or the former Finkl Steel property. When the sale was announced last year, Mayor Rahm Emanuel described the goal of the renovation as "transforming the Old Main Post Office site into an economic driver for the City of Chicago"—and the don't drive much harder than Amazon. (Here's the contact info, if you wanna lease, Jeff!)

The redevelopment project is expected to include office space, a three-acre rooftop park and a riverwalk. The park complex will include cafes and a fitness center, with sports courts and a quarter-mile track, the city said last year. The full overhaul is expected to cost $500 million, and could take up to another four years to complete.

[H/T Curbed Chicago]

This post has been updated.