The transformation of Chicago’s 2.5‑million‑square‑foot Old Post Office required upgraded utilities, improved site access, and redesigned public plazas to support a new mixed‑use program. With aging infrastructure, complex utility conflicts, and multiple transportation interfaces, the project demanded highly coordinated engineering solutions. Our team supported the repositioning effort through access evaluations, new water service design, plaza redevelopment, traffic and circulation studies, and close collaboration with city agencies and adjacent development teams.

Key Contributions:

Access Assessment & Permitting
Our team verified existing driveway permits and provided updated documentation to maintain access during redevelopment.

Water Service Design & Coordination
We engineered two new water services, navigating significant utility congestion and coordinating extensively with the City to route the second service beneath complex structural elements.

East Plaza Renovation
Design development, construction documents, and construction administration were provided for the east plaza, creating a pedestrian‑friendly space while maintaining loading operations.

West Plaza Engineering Support
We coordinated the removal and reconstruction of the west plaza with structural and landscape teams, and aligned intersection improvements with the adjacent Union Station/BMO Tower project.

Traffic & Safety Evaluations
Our team completed circulation studies to determine safe exit movements from the plazas, addressing grade challenges, Amtrak clearance requirements, and heavy vehicle volumes on Canal Street.

Driveway & Intersection Adjustments
We worked with the design team to introduce a right‑out movement to Canal Street for the southern plaza and convert the existing driveway to right‑in only, improving safety at the Canal/Harrison/Congress Parkway intersection.

TIF & Agency Coordination
All improvements were aligned with TIF requirements and coordinated with the City of Chicago and CDOT to secure necessary reviews and approvals.