Creating a Chicago-inspired design for workspace, retail, and training in the historic Old Chicago Post Office

Walgreens Chicago Office

Vacant since the late 1990s, the historic Old Chicago Post Office is undergoing revitalization. To centralize its downtown operations, Walgreens chose to be the first significant tenant of the refreshed landmark. Stantec was called upon to design an office space, training center, retail store, and private building entry for the retailer.

We led the architecture, integrated buildings engineering, and interior design services on the renovation and rehabilitation. Our goal was to create a city-scale environment based on the idea of a city plan. Within the workplace, communal spaces are at the core, forming a city center. Stemming from the city center are zones for groups of individual workstations and amenities, which form neighborhoods. Town centers bookend the neighborhoods and consist of huddle rooms, break areas, and smaller conference rooms. On the more public first floor, courses are hosted to celebrate the legacy and future of Walgreens. Our design of an Innovation Hall supports flexibility with simple display niches where content changes regularly, which engages people entering the building's lobby.

The new workspace serves as Walgreens’ technology hub and will ultimately host an estimated 1,800 employees. In collaboration with our client's leadership and in-house design group, we created a vision of health and well-being in the new space.