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
Courtesy Skender.
Courtesy Skender.
Courtesy Skender.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 19, 2023
Office leasing in major markets by financial services firms rebounds to pre-pandemic norms
Though the pandemic led to reductions in office leasing by financial services firms in gateway markets, a recent report by JLL found a notable leasing resurgence by those firms.
Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023
The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023
Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this
Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 10, 2023
California updates building code for adaptive reuse of office, retail structures for housing
The California Building Standards Commission recently voted to make it easier to convert commercial properties to residential use. The commission adopted provisions of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) that allow developers more flexibility for adaptive reuse of retail and office structures.
Headquarters | Jul 5, 2023
The game room: Transforming game design office spaces
IA Interior Architects' designers discuss the aesthetic considerations for gaming industry work environments.
Office Buildings | Jun 28, 2023
When office-to-residential conversion works
The cost and design challenges involved with office-to-residential conversions can be daunting; designers need to devise creative uses to fully utilize the space.
Standards | Jun 26, 2023
New Wi-Fi standard boosts indoor navigation, tracking accuracy in buildings
The recently released Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11az enables more refined and accurate indoor location capabilities. As technology manufacturers incorporate the new standard in various devices, it will enable buildings, including malls, arenas, and stadiums, to provide new wayfinding and tracking features.
