..............................................................................................................when not doing studio
CHICAGO REVEALED
Post [Waste] Office
Recovering all waste leaving the Loop for recycling and energy creation
Post [Waste] Office
Post [Waste] Office
Recovering all waste leaving the Loop for recycling and energy creation
physical model: Scale 1” = 50’-0”
The Post [Waste] Office transforms the vacant Old Chicago Main Post Office into a waste management center for the Loop. The building combines recycling, energy generation, and community engagement. Recycling and waste management in Chicago has long been problematic, with costs much higher than most cities due to inefficient pickup routes and long travel distances to remote landfills. It was important to re-use (that is “recycle”) the long-abandoned Post Office building to prevent waste of demolition and the energy and material expenditure of new construction.
The Chicago Main Post Office provides an efficient and iconic space for managing the vast amount of waste coming from the Loop. Waste processing fuels on-site energy generation and artists and small industry take advantage of on-site recyclables. Winter gardens grow out of the roof providing a public amenity and the entire building doubles as an education center, where the recycling process is on display.
Adaptive Re-Use Rather than tear down the existing massive structure, a new function was brought in to utilize what has already been built.
Existing Building: The Old Chicago Main Post Office was a major hub for mail processing, housing heavy sorting equipment in 3 million square feet of space.
Split the Building: Congress Parkway currently runs through the building’s lowest floors. This division was opened up through the entire building to form a grand atrium.
Add Chimney: A large chimney was added to the southern half of the building, needed to exhaust the new energy equipment.
Add Arboretum: The robustness of the existing structure allowed for a large arboretum to be built on the roof.
Eliminate Floors: Due to low floorto-floor heights, every other floor was removed to accommodate the large recycling and energy production equipment.
Accessibility The building’s location just east of the loop allows for easy access for waste delivery. The existing loading docks have been expanded and now accept waste rather than mail. Pedestrian links are created to the north through the restored art deco grand lobby, and across the river to the east by a new pedestrian “green” bridge and riverwalk.
“The city of Chicago, spends $231 per ton of trash disposal, the highest paying city in the US, with the second highest being Los Angeles which pays $129 for the same ton.”
Rooftop Arboretum Pedestrian routes take visitors throughout the entire building allowing it to serve as an education center. These routes culminate at the roof where a glass-enclosed arboretum housing trees and green space is open yearround to the public. This green house space serves as a public amenity for events or leisure and increases the building as a “destination” to visit.
Bryon Krebs & Archit Sawhney
panel 1 | 12’ X 4’
Santa Fe Buidling Lobby, Chicago
panel 2 | 12’ X 4’
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