It looks like the historic yet long neglected Old Main Post Office in Chicago will get a face-lift pretty soon.
British investor Bill Davies of International Property Developers North America (IPD) has partnered up with Chicago-based Sterling Bay Cos. on a $500 million first-phase project, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The plan is to convert the historic building into a 2.7 million-sf, high-end mixed-use center.
IPD not only plans to restore the neoclassical post office exteriors and interiors to their original splendor, but also hopes to extend new retail and entertainment floors next to the historic structure on the Chicago River’s edge.
The Old Post Office’s restoration won’t just be for future tenants; the area below is being planned as a transportation hub for the city, and the main lobby as a public entryway for pedestrians.
Related Stories
| Sep 2, 2014
Extreme conversion: 17-story industrial silo to be converted to high-rise housing
As part of Copenhagen's effort to turn an industrial seaport into a bustling neighborhood, Danish architecture firm COBE was invited to convert a grain silo into a residential tower.
Sponsored | | Sep 2, 2014
Judson University’s Harm A. Weber Academic Center resembles copper, but its sustainability efforts are pure gold
The building’s custom-fabricated wall panels look like copper, but are actually flat metal sheets coated with Valspar’s signature Fluropon Copper Penny coating.
| Sep 2, 2014
Melbourne's tallest residential tower will have 'optically transformative façade'
Plans for Melbourne's tallest residential tower have been released by Elenberg Fraser Architects. Using an optically transformative façade and botanical aesthetic, the project seeks to change the landscape of Australia's Victoria state.
| Sep 1, 2014
Ranked: Top federal government sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Clark Group, Fluor, and HOK top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest federal government design and construction firms, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 29, 2014
The new College Football Hall of Fame opens in Atlanta
Adjacent to the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park, the three-story, 94,250-sf attraction is designed to celebrate the traditions of college football.
| Aug 29, 2014
Phifer and Partners to design 'transparent' Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
The design includes a stage that opens onto the city's Parade Square, so anyone passing by will be able to see performances.
| Aug 29, 2014
China Syndrome: How long will U.S. firms keep milking the Middle Kingdom?
U.S. architecture and engineering firms like Goettsch Partners have been enjoying full employment in China. But will there come a point when Chinese officials—and Chinese designers—say, We can handle this? BD+C's Robert Cassidy digs into this issue.
| Aug 28, 2014
Arthur Platt and Julie Engh to lead AIANY architectural boat tour at BD+C Under40 Leadership Summit
The tour, which will circumnavigate Manhattan, will provide U40 Summit attendees with information about the history and architectural details of numerous buildings visible from the 1920s-era yacht.
| Aug 28, 2014
USGBC, American Chemistry Council join forces to advance LEED
The groups will apply technical and science-based approaches to the LEED green building program.
| Aug 27, 2014
Turkish government orders demolition of residential towers in Istanbul
Citing negative effects to a world heritage site, the Turkish central government has ruled that the recently completed OnaltiDokuz Residence towers must be demolished.
