Old Post Office

This project was selected as an Merit winner in ARCHITECT's 2022 Architecture & Interiors Awards, Interior: Small Office category.

"Taking cues from the existing structure, this marketing office in an old post office merges old and new so beautifully. The old brick and concrete are the perfect backdrop for the stunning sculptural copper slide." — Juror Verda Alexander

Housed inside a historic former mail-sorting warehouse in Chicago, this suite’s existing architectural assets included large, factory-style steel casement windows, high ceilings, and rustic concrete columns. Eastlake highlighted these features in the new design, also reviving a copper-colored spiraling mail chute as a sculptural focal point. Fitted with modern office amenities and retro pops of pink, aqua, burgundy, and teal, the space honors its architectural history using parquet floors, original green mosaic tile, Art Deco motifs, and a decorative trim.

PROJECT CREDITS
Project: Old Post Office Suite 2E, Chicago
Client/Owner: The Telos Group
Architects: Eastlake Studio, Chicago. Christina Brown - Interior Designer, Principal; Nicole Tabata, AIA - Architect, Director; Carla Schrader - Interior Designer; Andy Naoumov - Technical Designer; Camille Hunter - Environmental Graphics
Interior Designer: Eastlake Studio
Mechanical Engineer: McGuire Engineers : Michael Murphy
Construction Manager: JLL, John Walters
General Contractor: BIG Construction : Christopher Evans, John Wilson
Landscape Architect:
Lighting Designer: Eastlake Studio
Size: 25,000 square feet
Cost: $25 sqft furniture / construction $73 sqft

Materials and Sources
Acoustical System: Turf https://turf.design/
Adhesives/Coatings/Sealants:
Appliances: Fisher Paykel https://www.fisherpaykel.com/us/cooling/refrigeration/
Building Management Systems/Services:
Carpet: Interface (main) https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/homepage , Milliken (Suite A entry rug) https://floors.milliken.com/floors/en-us/home , Suite B Tandus https://commercial.tarkett.com/en_US/brand/tandus-centiva
Ceilings: Armstrong Metalworks
Concrete: Artlow
Exterior Wall Systems:
Fabrics/Finishes: Difiniti Quartz http://difinitisurfaces.com/ (reception desks / break areas)
Flooring: Artlow, Interface
Furniture: Teknion (main systems), Sit On It (task chairs) Andreu World (Suite B marble conference table), Watson (Suite A conference table) Jamie Stern custom banquette and bar stools (https://jamiesterndesign.com/product/float-barstool/ (Suite A) , Meyer Wells (custom live-edge wood waterfall edge counter island) Anthropologie (Reception chairs, coffee table, Rockers, wood inlay chest, Suite A), Cb2, Lulu & Georgia, Blu Dot
Glass: Bendheim
Lighting: Luke Lamp Co, Chicago Lightwork, Ledalite by Signify, Lightolier by Signify, Pure Edge Lighting
Lighting Control Systems:
Metal: Tubing (pantry area) Nu-rail
Millwork: Hire Nelson
Paints/Finishes: Sherwin Wiliams and Wolf Gordon Scuffmaster (mail chute),
Wallcoverings: Astek, Eastlake Studio mural graphics + Ziken Signage,
Walls: All Kinds (artifact wall)
Wayfinding: Ziken Signage