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Recipient of the 2023 Best of Year award for Commercial Landscape, the rooftop of Chicago’s Old Post Office has been transformed into a sprawling meadow, offering a serene oasis amidst the bustling cityscape. This remarkable adaptive reuse initiative, spearheaded by Gensler, breathes new life into a historic art deco landmark, now capable of accommodating 16,000 office workers.
From Postage to Picnics
Once the nerve center of Chicago’s postal system, the Old Post Office now boasts a vibrant mixed-use environment. However, the absence of outdoor space posed a significant challenge. Enter developer 601W, who seized the opportunity to capitalize on the expansive 3 ½-acre rooftop. Collaborating with landscape architects Hoerr Schaudt, they envisioned an alfresco amenity that would elevate the building’s appeal and functionality.
Nurturing Nature
Hoerr Schaudt’s design ingeniously integrates footpaths around major structural beams, maximizing the roof’s load-bearing capacity. Elsewhere, a tapestry of perennials and grasses, planted in a custom ultra-lightweight soil mix, blankets the rooftop. This verdant oasis not only enhances the building’s aesthetic allure but also aligns with sustainability objectives, making it one of the nation’s largest private green roofs.
An Urban Retreat
Amidst the concrete jungle of downtown Chicago, the Old Post Office rooftop offers a welcome respite—a place where office workers can escape the confines of their desks and immerse themselves in nature’s embrace. Whether enjoying a leisurely picnic or simply taking a stroll along the meandering footpaths, visitors are treated to panoramic views and a sense of tranquility that belies the urban hustle below.
Cultivating Community and Sustainability
Beyond its role as a recreational space, the rooftop meadow fosters a sense of community among building occupants, providing a shared environment for relaxation and rejuvenation. Moreover, its eco-friendly design contributes to the property’s broader sustainability goals, serving as a testament to the transformative power of adaptive reuse in urban development.
Conclusion
As a recipient of the prestigious Best of Year award for Commercial Landscape, the rooftop meadow atop Chicago’s Old Post Office stands as a testament to the ingenuity of collaborative design and the potential for historic structures to evolve with the times. By seamlessly blending nature and urbanity, this verdant oasis enriches the built environment while offering a glimpse of a greener, more sustainable future.
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