Walgreens Technology Center of Excellence completes in Chicago’s Old Post Office
By David Malone, Associate Editor
Skender has completed construction on the new Walgreens Technology Center of Excellence in Chicago’s redeveloped Old Post Office. Post COVID, the 200,000-sf office will welcome hundreds of employees from e-commerce, mobile, pharmacy technology, as well as digital team members and Walgreens Boots Alliance Information Technology personnel.
The office spans multiple levels and buildings of the Old Post Office development. It features a signature staircase, open and private offices, collaboration and conferencing spaces, data rooms, and kitchen and lounge spaces.
Within the workplace, the communal spaces are located in the central core of the building, forming a "city center." Zones for groupings of individual workstations and specific amenities, which form "neighborhoods," stem from the city center. Each neighborhood has its own identity, and the collection of neighborhoods stitches the community together.
Courtesy Stantec.
"Town centers" bookened the neighborhoods. The town centers comprise huddle rooms, break areas, and smaller conference rooms. The main circulation artery breaks the city grid like the European urban plan, which connects all spaces across the massive floor plate.
Located on the first floor is the new Walgreens University spacve. This space celebrates the company's legacy and its future. It will welcome new hires and current employees for training, meetings, and special events. The Innovation Hall, meanwhile, will showcase a series of creation labs to display the innovative culture and history of Walgreens. The design is intended to support flexibility with content changing regularly, and engage people who enter from the building's main entry.
Courtesy Stantec.
The project will increase Walgreens presence in Chicago and signifies a commitment to attracting top technology talent. In addition to Skender acting as the general contractor, Stantec, along with Walgreens in-house development group, handled the architecture, integrated buildings engineering, and interior design services.
See Also: Chicago’s Old Post Office get new zip with massive $900 million renovation
