SUCCESS STORIES: Old Chicago Main Post Office
“The Old Post Office was by far the most challenging project that BEAR has ever taken on, and Metropolitan’s performance was crucial to our meeting the many milestones in place to achieve occupancy from the City of Chicago.”
Scott J. Kurinsky
Executive Vice President
BEAR Construction Company
Delivering Exceptional Services
CLIENT: BEAR Construction Co.
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
TIMELINE: 2016 to Present
THE SITUATION
The Old Main Post Office is one of Chicago’s most historic and visually unique buildings. The huge steel-frame structure—part of which dates back to 1921—hovers not only above rail tracks leading to Union Station but also over the Eisenhower Expressway, which ferries millions of area commuters “through” the building on their way into and out of The Loop. After serving as the City’s primary mail facility for more than 60 years, the Old Main Post Office was officially closed in 1997 and left in limbo. But in 2016, 601W Companies purchased the vacant property for redevelopment into a modern, multi-use office building. The new owners turned to Chicago-based BEAR Construction Co. to serve as general contractor for the $800 million-plus project—considered the largest historical redevelopment project in the United States. BEAR’s scope of work included mechanical, electrical, plumbing, safety systems, and basic building core elements throughout the entire 2.8 million-square-foot building.
THE MFP SOLUTION
Based on three decades of working successfully together on hundreds of demanding projects, BEAR hired Metropolitan Fire Protection (MFP) as the design-build contractor for demolition, planning, and installation of an updated fire protection system at the Old Main Post Office, compliant with current Chicago City codes.
MFP was well aware of the massive obstacles presented by the project. Two years before, at the request of Jones Lang LaSalle, the company inspected the existing sprinkler system at the building and—finding nothing salvageable—installed temporary standpipes to protect the vacant structure. For the work with BEAR, MFP assembled a 12-member team devoted solely to the Old Post Office job, including project engineers, a crew of sprinkler fitters, and George Shaw as project manager.
THE PROJECT SCOPE
Currently four-plus years into the project and still providing on-site services, the MFP team has completed installation of new fire and safety systems in the full interior shell of the structure as well as finished hallways, restrooms, stairways, and a variety of other shared spaces. These include a 10,000-square-foot conference center, fitness complex, library, multi-acre rooftop park, casual meeting areas, and a private parking facility. The team continues to work on the building’s food hall.
The impressive numbers associated with MFP’s pivotal role in the Old Main Post Office redevelopment project provide perspective. To date, MFP has installed 18 standpipes, approximately 20,000 sprinkler heads, and about 75 miles of pipe. They also have installed seven deluge systems to protect the giant fans that handle exhaust from the train tracks below.
THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS
Nearing completion of the project, BEAR Executive Vice President Scott J. Kurinsky took the opportunity to reflect on the amazing project and the history of outstanding partnership the two firms have shared.
“Not only did the MFP team meet the challenges” said Kurinsky, “but they did it within budget and with the ‘can-do’ attitude that has been Metropolitan’s calling card for the nearly 30 years the two companies have worked together. We faced many obstacles on the Old Post Office job, but thanks to Metropolitan, fire protection was not one of them.”